SUGAR INDUSTRY OF INDIA: LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND STABILITY
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Sugar industry is the second largest agro-based industry in India after cotton and it impacts the livelihood of more than 5 crore farmers and their dependents. Also, India is the largest consumer and the second largest producer of sugar in the world next to Brazil. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations states that 124 countries produce sugar.
However, if alternative sweeteners, such as, Khandsari (sort of raw sugar) and Gur (jaggery) are included in the fold, India would be the most significant overall sugar producer. India produces about 35.5 crore tonnes of sugarcane annually in average terms out of which 3 crore tonnes of sugar as the final product. The Economic Survey 2021-22 reported that the domestic consumption of sugar in 2020-21 is estimated to be around 2.6 crore tonnes.