Sugar millers have pegged cane acreage for 2012-13 at 53.44 lakh hectares (lh), about 1.3 per cent higher than Government’s estimate of 52.88 lh.
The cane acreage data are generated through satellite mapping of key sugarcane growing areas across the country.
The mapping survey was commissioned jointly by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and the National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories (NFCSF).
However, the sugar industry will not revise its output forecast for next year due to the marginal rise in cane acreage.
“We had already factored the acreage data while forecasting our estimates” an ISMA official said.
In its first advance estimate, it has forecast sugar output of 24 million tonne (mt) for 2012-13, against an actual output of 26.2 mt last year.
The NFCSF expects the 2012-13 output at 24.5 mt.
The satellite mapping exercise showed that sugarcane yield would be affected in some parts of the country due to lower rainfall.
It also indicated diversion of cane to fodder in some areas.
State-wise details
The mapping exercise estimated cane acreage in Maharashtra at 9.78 lh in 2012-13 season.
In Karnataka, cane acreage is estimated at 4.23 lh for 2012-13, while it is likely to be slightly higher than last year in Tamil Nadu.
ISMA said the satellite images for June and August period have been taken in account while estimating the total cane area.
The next satellite survey report would be announced during December-January period, ISMA said.