India, March 18 -- The sugar industry in Maharashtra is in the throes of a crisis as annual production has dropped by around 3 million tonnes this year compared to last year and sugar factories are finding it increasingly difficult to pay fair and remunerative prices (FRP) to cane farmers, Sanjay Khatal, managing director of Maharashtra State Co-Operative Sugar Factories Federation Ltd told Hindustan Times.

"Compared to the 11 million tonnes of sugar produced last year, Maharashtra is going to end up with 8 million tonnes of sugar this year as only 30 factories are still running while another 170 factories have finished crushing," said Khatal. Yearly hikes in FRP, rising transportation costs and low sugar content in canes due to climate ...