The Empowered Group of Ministers on Food, EGoM is likely to take a final decision next week on the quantum of sugar to be exported in the current marketing year.

The issue will come up for discussion in the meeting of EGoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday.

This was stated by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi on Friday.

In the previous marketing year government had allowed exports of 2.6 million tonnes of sugar.

AIR Correspondent reports that the sugar industry has been pushing for allowing higher sugar exports in view of a second consecutive bumper crop expected in the current marketing year from October 2011 to November 2012.

According to official estimates, sugar production in the country is estimated to increase to 25 million tonnes in the current marketing year from 24.3 million tonnes in 2010-11.