Karnataka, where sugar output fell to an eight-year low of 2.05 million tonne this marketing year, have to wait long to return to its normal production level of about 5 million tonne. While production of sugar is seen rising in the southern state in 2017-18 (Oct-Sep), the rise would be marginal. Sugar output in the state during 2017-18 is seen rising to around 2.4 million tonne helped by “good” monsoon rains this year following two successive years of drought.