As per practice, ISMA obtains satellite images of sugarcane across the country three times in a year, starting from June, followed by September and then in January every year. On the basis of these images, the Committee of ISMA, having representatives from the sugar producing States across the country, estimates the sugar production for the sugar season.
2. Accordingly, based on the satellite images obtained in June 2017, the Committee of ISMA has made its preliminary estimate on 11th July 2017, of sugar production in 2017-18 SS at around 251 lac tons.
3. The three top sugar producing States, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka are together expected to produce over 198 lac tons of sugar, i.e. contributing for about 79% of the country’s total production next season. These are based on estimates of yields, drawal percentages and sugar recoveries, which in turn, have been estimated on the basis of rainfall, water in reservoirs, field reports, inter-action with farmers etc. The other States of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, which has seen a big fall in sugar production in 2016-17, are expected to get back to their normal production in next season. The other Northern States, viz. Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana too are expected to give higher production over current season.
3. The first advance estimates would be made by ISMA in the month of September, when the sugarcane would have mostly matured and the satellite images are able to capture the crop much better than now. Later, when almost half of the sugarcane is harvested and crushed by the sugar mills, ISMA would make its second advance estimates in the month of January 2018. As per these images and field reports, and as has been the practice of the Association, the estimates will be accordingly reviewed then.