UP sugar output to be lower than estimates
23 Sep 2010
India's top cane producing state Uttar Pradesh (UP) is likely to record lower outputs to extent of 9-12 per cent as against estimates, in the next season, according to the state government.
However, the output will be higher than this season's 5.8 million tonnes said B S Bisht, the state government spokesman.
He added that the real estimate of damage would be done only when the flood waters recede.
The state government's initial forecast put the output at 6.8 million tonnes for the new season starting October.
India is the world's second-largest sugar producer after Brazil and is the sweetener's top consumer.
At least 2 million people in northern India, including UP have been rendered homeless as the rivers across north India including the Ganges breached embankments submerging villages and fields after unusually heavy monsoon precipitation.
