India's sugar production rose by 7 per cent to 110.90 lakh tonnes till January 15 during the marketing year ending September. The sugar mills have started their cane crushing operations earlier this year causing higher production, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.<br/><br/>India is world's second-largest producer and biggest consumer of sugar. Sugar production in India stood at 103.82 lakh tonnes in the same period of 2014-15 marketing year . India is all set to produce surplus sugar for the sixth straight year in 2015-16. Mills have contracted for export of nine lakh tonnes sugar against and about seven lakh tonnes of the sweetener have been moved for exports.<br/>In November, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had decided to pay sugarcane growers Rs 4.50 per quintal for the cane they will sell to loss-making millers, a<br/>move that will cost Rs 1,147 crore to the exchequer.