Sugarcane Output Target Fixed At 470 mt, More Ethanol May Lead To Lower Sugar

The Agriculture Ministry has set a target of 470 mt of sugarcane production during the 2024–25 crop year (July-June). Even if the target is achieved, it may lower the sugar production in the next season to about 31 mt from the current year’s estimated 32 mt due to a higher commitment for ethanol. The government had earlier fixed 1.7 mt of sugar equivalent for ethanol, which was later supplemented with some unspecified quantity.

Sugar consumption during the current season is set to cross 29 million tonnes, a record high and up 4 per cent from about 28 mt in the 2022-23 season. Negative impacts such as future large-scale ethanol production from sugarcane might lead to the destruction or damage of high-biodiversity areas, deforestation, degradation or damaging of soils.

Presentation- Dibyabharati Nayak