Lok Sabha Question No. 2068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Projected Sugar Production
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2017

## PROJECTED SUGAR PRODUCTION

2068. DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government had projected sugar production to be 22.5 million tonnes for  2016-17  but  the  actual  production  remained  20  million  tonnes,  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)   whether  sugar  mills  in  Maharashtra  have  produced  40.56  lakh  tonnes  of  sugar compared  to  66.62  lakh  tonnes  produced  during  the  corresponding  period  of  the previous year and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether measures are proposed to be taken to remove the shortage of sugar in the market and to stabilise the prices and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government to check the black marketing of sugar; and
- (d)   the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  available  sufficient  sugar  to take care of the domestic requirement and lessen the dependency on imports?

A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a):  After taking into account the first advance estimate of Department of Agriculture &  Cooperation and on the basis of inputs received in the meeting  of  cane commissioners on 14.10.2016, the sugar production was initially estimated at 225.21 lakh tones. However, due to decrease of sugarcane production on account of drought in  major  sugar  producing  states  like  Maharashtra,  Karnataka,  etc  and  diversion  of cane to other allied sectors like Gur, Khandsari, etc., the earlier estimates of sugar production  may  undergo  downward  revision.  Actual  sugar  production  data  is  not available before the closing of the sugar season.
- (b):  As  per  the  information  received  from  Government  of  Maharashtra,  up  to  19 th February, 2017, sugar mills in Maharashtra have produced 40.56 lakh tonnes of sugar compared to 65.62 lakh tones produced during corresponding period of the previous year/season.

(c)&(d): With the estimated opening stock of 77 lakh tones for the current sugar season 2016-17, sufficient sugar would be available to meet domestic consumption of about 242 lakh tones. However, with the objective of  keeping the sugar prices at reasonable level  and  to  ensure  smooth  supply  of  sugar  for  consumers,  the  Central Government has  imposed stock holding and turn over limits on stockist/ dealers of sugar. The Central Government has also authorized the State Governments and the Union territory Administrations to enforce this order to prevent speculative tendencies  and  hoarding  activities.  Further,  the  Government  has  imposed  custom duty @ 20% on export of sugar to conserve sugar stocks in the country to ensure its availability at a reasonable price.

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