Currently, farmers are struggling to save the cane from wilting for want of water. They are even ready to accept lower cane price to get their cane harvested by mills before it wilts. Though area under cane will decline next year, in the ongoing sugarcane crushing season the sugar industry has to contend with an unexpected increase in sugar production.
“Sugar production in the current season is higher than our expectations. We were expecting fall in yields due to white grub infestation. However, the increase in area under cane has probably made up for any losses due to white grub,” said Sanjay Khatal, managing director, Sakhar Sangh.