Tamil Nadu sugar output below 1 million tonne in 2017-18.

Sugar output in the state during 2017-18 (Oct-Sep) is seen falling below 1 millionn tonne as Tamil Nadu faces the worst drought in 140 years. Last year, mills in the state had produced 1.37 millionn tonne sugar. Sugar Production in 2017-18 is likely to be even lower than the current season because of successive years of meagre rainfall in the state, a drop in cane acreage, and lower sugar recovery. Tamil Nadu received 62% below-normal rainfall during the key northeast monsoon season in Oct-Dec. Production suffer due to drought It be drastically reduced and if the current trend continues, sugar output not even touch 1 millionn tonne next year. Tamil Nadu has been producing below its capacity for the last two-three years because of water crisis and low recovery from cane. Sugarcane sowing had fallen 8.8% on year to 268,000 hactare this season due to poor monsoon rains.