GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3092

ANSWERED ON:13.12.2011

SUGARCANE PRODUCTS

RAJIV RANJAN (LALAN) SINGH

(a) the number and percentage of sugar mills in the country that have started production of sugar during November 2011 alongwith the estimated production and demand of sugar during the ensuing season;

(b) whether the Government maintains figures regarding the production of other products of sugarcane including raw sugar, jaggery and molasses;

(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the production of the said commodities during the last three years and the current year; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIONbe pleased to state:-

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(PROF. K.V. THOMAS) 

 (a) As per information received from the States, out of 667 installed sugar mills, 398 sugar mills i.e. 60% have commenced production of sugar upto November, 2011 in the country. Based on the first advance estimates released by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in September, 2011, the production of sugar is provisionally estimated at about 246 lac tons as against the estimated demand of about 220 lac tons during the current sugar season 2011-12.

(b), (c) & (d) Earlier the Central Government did not maintain figures of raw sugar produced from the sugarcane which is meant either for direct exports or for further sale to domestic refineries for processing. Production of raw sugar is a new trend and the Government has since started maintaining its data with effect from the last sugar season i.e. 2010-11. Production of raw sugar is provisionally estimated at about 2.08 lac tons in 2010-11 season. The main by-products in the process of manufacture of sugar by the sugar mills are molasses, bagasse and press mud.

The production of molasses, bagasse and press mud varies in the range of 4.2% to 4.5%, 30% to 33% and 3% to 5% on cane crushed respectively. However, the details regarding the by-products, not being the commodities controlled by the Central Government, are not maintained. Similarly for jaggery, which is the product of mostly un-organized sector, information is not centrally maintained.