October-February sugar production declines 10.63%: Indian Sugar Mills Association

NEW DELHI: The production of sugar in the country declined 10.63 per cent to 16.86 million tonnes in the October-February period of the ongoing 2013-14 marketing year, on lower output in most states, including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, industry body ISMA said. Also, sugarcane arrears to growers has touched Rs 14,000 crore as on February 28, 2014, of which Rs 10,000 crore remains unpaid in Uttar Pradesh, it said in a statement. Mills had manufactured 18.84 million tonnes of sugar in the same period of last marketing year (October-September). According to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), "The gap in sugar production has narrowed down further from 13 per cent to 11 per cent over the last fortnight. 460 mills are still crushing sugarcane, which is 23 more than last year."