But this year’s situation is worse. The crushing season began six weeks late and an unprecedented 844 lakh tonnes of cane is to be crushed. If the entire cane is crushed, sugar production may touch a record 100 lakh tonnes. However, considering that the season has started late and the number of sick mills is more, there is a possibility of 100 lakh tonnes to 150 lakh tonnes of cane remaining uncrushed.

“The Government had planned to start the crushing season on October 1, but it actually started on November 15 because of prolonged rains and Diwali, which affected the availability of labourers to cut standing cane,” the Managing Director of the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Sangh, Prakash Naiknavre, says.

He adds that while the Government has done its bit, “additional crushing capacity has been added and efforts are being made to help the industry”, the situation is going to be “worse than last year”.

Mounting losses

2006-07:

Crushing season delay: 4 weeks

Sugarcane crushed: 794 lakh tonnes

Uncrushed: 43 lakh tonnes

2007-08 (estimates):

Crushing season delay: 6 weeks

Sugarcane to be crushed: 844 lakh tonnes

Sugarcane likely to remain uncrushed: 100 to 150 lakh tonnes