New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS): Sugar output rose 17 percent to 75.78 lakh tonnes in the October-December period last year following a sharp jump in production in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, industry data showed Tuesday.

"Almost 50 percent of the increase is on account of higher production in Uttar Pradesh till Dec 31, 2011, which is mainly because of the fact that the sugar mills in the state had to start their crushing much earlier than usual, as directed by the state government," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.

The sugar season starts from Oct 1. In the first quarter, the total output was 75.78 lakh tonnes as compared to 64.58 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of 2010, registering an increase of around 11 lakh tonnes or 17 percent.

Of the total rise of 11 lakh tonnes, almost five lakh tonnes were produced in Uttar Pradesh while Maharashtra and Karnataka recorded output of three lakh tonnes and two lakh tonnes, respectively.

In Uttar Pradesh, 261 lakh tonnes of sugarcane were crushed till Dec 31, 2011 in the current season as compared to 197 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period of last year.

ISMA estimates that sugar output in India is likely to rise to 260 lakh tonnes in the current season ending Sep 30, 2012 as compared to 243 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

Industry groupings Indian Sugar Mills Association and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories will carry out second satellite mapping on sugarcane harvesting in February to update its estimate on production.