UP leads in sugar production, not Maharashtra: Akhilesh Yadav

MUMBAI: With estimates suggesting his state trailing Maharashtra in sugar production, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today alleged the western state is passing off imported sugar as its own resulting in the skewed data, and asserted that his state is leading the fray.

"Maharashtra feels that no one produces more sugar than it does. It is a different issue that you use the sea and the coast you have...sugar comes from outside, there are changes which are made, but those sugar quantities are treated as those coming in from Maharashtra," Yadav said addressing an investor summit here.

"Our cane harvest is the highest, our production of sugar is the highest," he asserted.

According to the estimates by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), total production in the fiscal ending September 2015 is estimated to be 28.3 million tonne, which will include 10.47 million tonne from Maharashtra and 7.1 million tonne from UP.

Yadav acknowledged that there is a "jhagda" (fight) between the two states over who is the leader in sugar production.

Addressing reporters later, Yadav said there is a strong fight between the two states on sugar production every year with either Maharashtra or UP racing ahead on a yearly basis. He, however, was quick to add that despite the difficult circumstances, UP takes better care of its farmers.

Against the backdrop of drought, demands are being made in Maharashtra to stop sugarcane cultivation in pockets like Marathwada which lack sufficient irrigation facilities.