The Government today allocated 19.31 lakh tonnes of sugar for sale in the open market and ration shops during September, a slight increase vis-a-vis the ongoing month.
Out of 19.31 lakh tonnes, the Food Ministry has earmarked 17 lakh tonnes for the open market and the remaining 2.31 lakh tonnes for distribution through the public distribution system.
“The Central Government has decided to make available 19.31 lakh tonnes of sugar (levy sugar 2.31 lakh tonnes and non-levy sugar 17 lakh tonnes) for the month of September,” an official statement said.
The allocated quota would be sufficient to meet the domestic demand next month, it added.
The Ministry had released 19.2 lakh tonnes for sale in the open market and through ration shops this month.
Sugar mills have been asked to sell the entire non-levy quota (meant for the open market) by September-end. The Ministry has extended the deadline for selling the August quota in the open market till September 14.
Sugar production in India, the world’s second largest producer and biggest consumer, is estimated to have risen to 24.2 million tonnes in the 2010-11 season (October-September) from 18.8 mt in the previous year. Annual domestic demand is pegged at 21-21.5 mt.