India swings between being a sugar importer and exporter, depending on the size of local output. “Parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka are reeling under drought, which is adversely affecting cane productivity and sugar recovery," Naiknavare said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Sharp dropSugar production in Maharashtra, the country’s second-biggest grower, may slump about 40% to 6.44 million tons in 2019-20 from this year, said Shekhar Gaikwad, Maharashtra’s sugar commissioner. Sugar cane plants in a large part of Maharashtra have dried up, Gaikwad said. “The standing crops, such as sugar cane, need immediate watering and farmers need to arrange for irrigation because of the delay in monsoon rains," said K.K.

Source: Mint June 12, 2019 12:33 UTC