Govt using all available tools to keep prices of essentials stable, says food secretary

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₹44 a kg against ₹134 in the UAE, ₹112 in Sri Lanka, ₹110 in the UK, and ₹76 in Brazil, the food secretary said. Sugar prices are predicted to fall as soon as mills start crushing sugarcane, he added. Due to the erratic monsoon, sugarcane production may suffer in the key producing states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

However, the output is likely to increase in Uttar Pradesh, another major producer. Nothing can be said about sugar production for 2023-24 (October-September) until the first advance estimate for the sugarcane crop is released by the agriculture ministry, Chopra said, adding that it may be released next week. India had 5.7 million tonnes of sugar as of October 1, which is sufficient to meet domestic demand for two-and-a-half months, he said.

On Wednesday the government extended restrictions on sugar exports beyond 31 October until further orders to ensure adequate domestic supply. Sugar exports were also restricted from a year starting last October. The government is also monitoring the monthly dispatches of sugar mills to ensure there is enough sugar in the domestic market.

All processors, traders, wholesalers and retailers of sugar have been told to disclose their stocks on a government portal to allow for easy nationwide monitoring. This sugar export policy will also ensure consistency in the production of ethanol from sugar-based feedstock, Chopra said. In 2022-23, India diverted about 4.3 million tonnes of sugar towards ethanol, which is expected to generate revenue of about ₹24,000 crore for sugar-based distilleries.

Chopra said that the government is also focusing on maize for ethanol production. The contribution of maize to ethanol production last year was zero. As part of the plan, the government