Cane growers claim private mill not purchasing produce
YAMUNANAGAR: Thousands of sugarcane farmers in the state have claimed that a private sugar mill in the district, Saraswati Sugar Mill (SSM), is not buying the largely-sown variety of the crop, Co 0238, from them despite an agreement, leading to harassment. Co 0238 is one of the early varieties of sugarcane that the government also recommends due to its high yield.
The SSM crushes around 30% of the sugarcane in the state.
Farmers also claim that the mill is buying other varieties like COH 160 and COJ 85, in spite of agreements signed with them for supply of CO 0238. They also accuse the mill management of delaying crushing operations by three weeks. “Despite the state government’s directions to advance crushing to the first week of November, the management did not comply,” they claim.
The mill’s tardy procurement comes at a time when the acreage under sugarcane has jumped 22% over last year to 1.25 lakh hectares.
“This year, the mill has reduced the supply it buys from us, based on the average of the past three years. On the other hand, we increased the area under sugarcane,” a farmer said.
This overproduction is likely to be issue this year with crushing capacity likely to come under strain. The state has 11 government-operated sugar mills with limited crushing capacity. Farmers have to depend on three private sugar mills, which crush over 50 per cent of the state’s produce.
The SSM has a target of crushing 1.7crore quintal this year and the management will look to extend working season till
May 2018.
THE MILL’S TARDY PROCUREMENT OF HIGHYIELDING CO 0238 VARIETY COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE ACREAGE UNDER SUGARCANE HAS JUMPED 22% OVER LAST YEAR TO 1.25 LAKH HECTARES; FARMERS ARE WORRIED AND ALLEGE HARASSMENT
WHERE ARE ORDERS/ INDENTS, QUESTION FARMERS
Most farmers in Yamunanagar region are yet to get a single indent/order to supply their cane to the SSM. Farmers, thus, are unable to clear their fields of the crop. This could result in a delay in wheat sowing.
“The mill started harassing us even before crushing started. I was told my agreement will only be for 1,700 quintal this year against 3,300 quintal I supplied last year. I had grown 4,500 quintal this year. Twelve days after crushing started, I have no indent,” claimed a farmer in Yamunanagar district.
The lack of orders has meant that farmers have no work for labourers. A farmer Nirmal Singh said, “If I do not get the indent, where will I supply my produce. The mill is delaying crushing of Co 238 to depress prices. When the indent does come, we will have to pay enhanced labour rates.”
Another farmer added, “Wheat sowing will be delayed, but we will hold a meeting on the pros and cons of increased area under sugarcane in January.”
When contacted, additional cane commissioner, Haryana agriculture department JS Brar said, “We will take up this issue with the mill authorities and will ask them to increase the purchase of Co 238. There is no complaint yet.”
Farmers also allege that the big land lords and the mill management have entered into a nexus. “The mill is purchasing sugarcane varieties which have higher sugar recovery over the high-yielding Co 238,” a farm leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said.
FARMERS MUST HAVE PATIENCE: MILL
SC Sachdeva, chief operating officer of the mill, said, “Farmers who regularly supply to us are our priority as we have a relationship with them. We have started purchase of Co 0238. In a few days, all farmers will be asked to start supply. The indent system has been computerised.”