India has become the world's largest producer and consumer of sugar and its second-largest exporter, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
More than 5000 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of sugarcane were grown in the nation during the sugar season (October to September) 2021–22, of which 394 LMT of sugar was produced by sugar mills after being crushed into around 3574 LMT (sucrose), the ministry said in a press release issued on Wednesday.
Of this, 35 LMT of sugar was diverted to the manufacturing of ethanol. The ministry stated that the season had proven to be a "watershed season for the Indian sugar sector" since it saw the setting of all records for sugarcane output, sugar production, sugar exports, cane purchases, cane dues paid, and ethanol production. Another brilliant season highlight that has been extended through 2020-21 is the largest exports of 109.8 LMT done without any financial assistance. This achievement of the Indian sugar industry was made possible by favourable worldwide pricing and Indian government policy. These exports brought in roughly Rs. 40,000 crores of foreign currency for the nation. The ministry went on to emphasize that the success of the sugar sector is a result of the coordinated and cooperative efforts of the central and state governments, farmers, sugar mills, and ethanol distilleries, as well as a generally favorable economic environment in the nation.
It also added that in the previous five years, timely government interventions have been essential in expanding the sugar industry step by step, from rescuing it from financial trouble in 2018–19 to the point of self-sufficiency in 2021–22.
