Uttar Pradesh likely to produce 41 lakh MT of sugar this season

Uttar Pradesh is likely to produce 41 lakh MT of sugar by the end of the current crushing season, a senior officer said here.
    
"As per the current estimates the state is most likely to achieve a target of 41.6 lakh MT sugar production by the end of the current crushing season, which will be one lakh MT higher compared to last year," Cane commissioner Sudhir M Bobade said.
     
So far 35.26 lakh MT of sugar has been produced and 396.51 lakh MT cane has been crushed by 128 sugar mills in the state, he said.
    
"While 40 units have closed, cane is still being crushed by 89 mills, including 81 of private sector, two of sugar corporation and six in cooperative sector," he further said.
    
Bobade said sugar mills which have closed down include 12 of the private sector, nine of the corporation and 19 of cooperative federation units.
    
"Cane area in the state have increased to 48,000 hectare as against 32,000 hectare last year and it has been estimated that the cane area will increase by 16% to 20% this year," he said.
    
The commissioner said that as against cane dues of Rs 8,771.62 crore, Rs 7889 crore have already been paid by the sugar mills till February 17.