Chennai, April 26:
Drought conditions across Tamil Nadu have hit sugarcane output and sugar recovery in the current season ending September.
Sugar registrations for the coming season indicate a further drop in output next year.
According to official estimates, as of mid-April the mills are expected to crush about 215 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugarcane against early estimates of over 230 lt.
Sugar production will be around 19.50 lt against earlier estimates of 22 lt. This will be marginally higher than last year’s production, say estimates.
Sugar recovery is also down as of April to about 9.80 per cent compared with 10.40 per cent in 2011-12.
Based on the ongoing sugarcane registrations in the field, the coming season could see a 15 per cent drop as farmers are as of now not too keen on expanding sugarcane areas.
If the dry spell continues farmers could divert the cane for ‘gur’ resulting in a further drop.
Electricity shortage and ground water depletion due to drought have contributed to the lack of enthusiasm for the nearly year-long crop.
Tamil Nadu, for the first time, could go without the second season sugarcane crushing or maybe a ‘truncated’ season.
Sugarcane crushing recommences in mid-July after the peak summer and goes on up to September during the special season, said experts.