Sugar production in Tamil Nadu during 2019-20 (Oct-Sep) is likely to rise to 1.5 mln tn, Ponni Sugars Managing Director N. Ramanathan said.
    If output in the state does touch the 1.5-mln-tn mark during 2019-20, Tamil Nadu may well reclaim its position as the country’s fourth largest sugar producer. The state had lost its position to Gujarat last year.
    For the ongoing season, mills across the state are likely to produce 900,000 tn-1 mln tn of the sweetener, he told Cogencis on the sidelines of Indian Sugar Mills Association’s annual general meeting held here on Friday.    
    Last year, sugar output in the state was at an all-time low of 600,000 tn.
    “This year southwest monsoon was good. Due to very good rains in Karnataka, flow of water in Cauvery has been very good. So, reservoirs are full,” said Ramanathan.
    However, as far as northeast monsoon is considered, “till date, it is elusive”, he said. The state gets most of its rainfall from northeast monsoon season (Oct-Dec). 
    Production of the sweetener in the state has been lower over the last few years due to lingering effects of drought. In 2016-17, the state had faced the worst drought in 140 years.
    The paucity of cane had also hurt the operating capacity of sugar mills in the state. Last year, mills operated at merely around 20% of their total capacity.