Centre hits out at ISMA for low estimate of sugar production

Two days after the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) released its Preliminary Estimates of Sugar Production for Sugar Season (October-September) 2023-24, showing a dip in production, the Centre on Friday hit out at the industry body stating that it is “highly premature” to assess the sugar and sugarcane production in the next harvest season.

Briefing reporters, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said, “We are getting some reports that there is some kind of panic and that there will be a shortage of sugar in the country. so, we thought we must clarify.”

“Number one, we think it is highly premature to assess what will be the sugarcane production in the next harvest, which will begin from October. And secondly, what we found from the data which is available now is that the sugarcane area has actually gone up this year from 53 lakh hectare to 56 lakh hectare,” Chopra said.