Shortage of sugarcane, drought-like situation, the divergence of sugarcane for fodder and agitations by farmers for pending FRP will have a huge impact on Maharashtra’s 2023-24 sugar season which starts on Wednesday, November 1.
This year, 14.07 lakh hectares of total sugarcane area will be available for crushing and production of 88.58 lakh tonnes of sugar is estimated. The area under sugar cultivation has decreased by 6 per cent compared to last year. Last year, 211 sugar mills produced 105 lakh metric tonnes of sugar. Deficit rainfall in many parts of the State has resulted in drought-like situation and demand for fodder is on the rise.