(a) whether the production of sugar in the country during the last season and the current season has been up to expectation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any measures have been taken for production of better quality sugar for export; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The production of sugar during the last sugar season (October- September) has been 243.50
lac tons and it has been provisionally estimated at about 260 lac tons during the current 2011-12 sugar season.
(c) & (d): The Central Government has allowed setting up of stand alone sugar refinery that produce refined sugar from raw sugar mainly for export purpose. Besides, the Central Government provides loan at concessional rate of interest from Sugar Development Fund (SDF) for modernization of sugar mills to produce better quality of sugar for export and domestic consumption.