India, June 4 -- By Kaushal Verma

New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): There is scope for improvement in sugar realisations as current ex-mill sugar prices in major producing states remain below production costs, Deepak Ballani, Director General of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), said on Wednesday.

Speaking to ANI, Ballani said ex-mill sugar prices in Uttar Pradesh are around Rs 41-41.50 per kg, while prices in Maharashtra are close to Rs 39 per kg, against an estimated production cost of about Rs 42 per kg.

"We still have scope of increasing the sugar price because unless the mill realises the right value of sugar, it will be difficult to pay farmers on time," Ballani said.

He noted that sugar prices have ...