Sugar production likely to rise by 8% to 26.5 million tonnes: Ram Vilas Paswan

NEW DELHI: Stating that there is no shortage of sugar in the country, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said India's sugar output is likely to increase by 8 per cent to 26.5 million tonnes in the current 2014-15 marketing year.

The government's production estimate is higher than Indian Sugar Mills Association's ( ISMA) projection of 26 million tonnes in 2014-15 marketing year (October-September). India is the world's second largest producer after Brazil.

"The estimated opening stock of sugar as on October 1, 2014 is 7.21 million tonnes. The likely production during 2014-15 season has been estimated at 26.5 million tonnes, which is adequate to meet the domestic demand of 24.8 million tonnes," Paswan said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

The Minister said the production stood at 24.55 million tonnes in 2013-14 as against the domestic demand of 24.3 million tonnes.

Paswan said there is no shortage of sugar in the country and prices have been stable.