India, July 29 -- Maharashtra has emerged as the country's largest sugar producer in the 2025-26 crushing season, producing 99 lakh tonnes of sugar - an increase of 18 lakh tonnes over the previous season - according to the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF).

State sugar commissioner Sanjay Kolte said, "The monsoon was good during the 2025-26 season, and the area under sugarcane cultivation increased to 16.4 lakh hectares from 13.70 lakh hectares in 2024-25."

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on July 21, Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers' welfare Ram Nath Thakur said sugarcane production in Maharashtra rose to 1,316.49 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 from 1,099.70 lakh tonnes in the previous season.

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