Sugar mills in the Terai region are now preparing to come into operation, as the sugarcane harvesting season has begun.
A few of them have started crushing sugarcane since mid-November although the government has not yet fixed the sugarcane price.
After a decline in sugarcane production, the sugar mills have delayed their operation.
Indu Shankar Chini Udhyog in Hariban and Mahalaxmi Chini Udhyog in Bagdah of Sarlahi have started making preparations for the operation of the mills, informed the mill administration. Sarlahi produces the largest amount of sugarcane in the county.
Yog Narayan Rajak, sugarcane manager of Indu Shankar Chini Udyog, informed that they would perform Donga puja (worship performed before operating the industry) at the industry on Wednesday.
“With in a few days after the puja, we will distribute ticket to the farmers and start crushing sugarcane,” he said.
Mahalaxmi Chini Udhyod had already started distributing tickets to the farmers. Devendra Yadav, Mayor of Godaita Municipality and a sugarcane farmer, informed that the mill started crushing sugarcane after clearing sugarcane payment of the last year.
Annapurna Chini Udhyog which was unstable on its operation in the past has not confirmed of its operation this year as well. Kapil Muni Mainali, president of Federation of Sugarcane Producers Association, said that the government had not called for the meeting to fix the sugarcane price this year.
He said that the sugarcane cultivation area would decline in the future if the price was not decided as per the demand of the farmers. “The problems of sugarcane farmers have always been overshadowed. The government has not shown any interest to address their problems. This year, the price might be decided only after forming the new government”, he added.
The farmers have demanded an increase in the price since the sugar price has escalated. Last year, sugarcane price was fixed at Rs. 540 per quintal.
Millgate Sugarcane Producers Committee Sarlahi submitted a memorandum to Indu Shankar Chini Udhyog a few days ago demanding that it should maintain the minimum price of sugarcane at Rs. 705 per quintal.
The farmers have started switching to other crops after failing to receive payment from the mills and the subsidy given by the government in time. They have also faced problems when the price of sugarcane has not been fixed as per the expenses.
According to a survey conducted by the sugar mills, sugarcane is cultivated in around 16,000 bighas of land in Sarlahi. Since the sugar mills had delayed their operations and have not paid the farmers in time, many farmers had started selling their sugarcane to molasses mills at a cheaper rate.
Source : TRN,
