Worries pile up for Y’nagar cane growers as sugarmill hints at delaying crushing

There is no clarity over the SAP, formula for the subsidy to the mills and procedure of payments. We will not be able to start the process until the government gives some assurance on our demands

SC SACHDEVA, chief operating officer, Saraswati mill, Yamunanagar

The decision about the SAP and the subsidy will be taken by the government, but we are expecting that all mills, including Saraswati Sugarmill, will start crushing by November 26

JS BRAR, additional cane commissioner, agriculture dept

KARNAL: Sugarcane growers associated with Saraswati Sugarmill of Yamunangar are worried as the mill management is reluctant to start the crushing process as per the government schedule.

The management says there lacks clarity over the sugarcane advisory prices (SAP) and formula for subsidy to private mills.

As per information, all government sugarmills, including those in Rohtak and Palwal, are scheduled to start the crushing operations before November 20. In the meeting of the sugarcane control board held last week, all mills had reportedly assured the government of starting the process as per the fixed schedule.

PVT MILLS SEEK COMPENSATION

As per the information, private mills are not ready to purchase the produce at SAP (which is yet to be announced) and are demanding from the government to compensate the mills and bear the cost above the fair remunerative prices (FRP), which is fixed by the Centre and is the minimum price that sugarcane farmers are legally guaranteed to get from sugar mills.

SC Sachdeva, chief operating officer of Yamunanagar’s Saraswati Sugar Mill, said, “There is no clarity over the SAP, formula for the subsidy to the mills and procedure of payments”.

“We have already raised this issue in the meeting of sugarcane control board. We will not be able to start the crushing process until the government gives some assurance on our demands,” he added.

However, officials of Piccadilly Sugar Mill, which would be starting crushing from November 20, said they have decided to run the factory over the formula fixed by the government last year.

Haryana agriculture department’s additional cane commissioner JS Brar said, “The decision about the SAP and the subsidy will be taken by the government, but we are expecting that all sugarmills, including Saraswati Sugarmill, will start crushing by November 26.” Private mills of Bhadson in Karnal and Naraingarh in Ambala have, however, decided to start the crushing operations as per the government’s direction.

FARMERS AT RECEIVING END

Meanwhile, farmers are complaining that they have to face similar problems every year and as private mills blackmail the government for their demands by delaying the crushing and causing losses to them.

“If the crushing is delayed, we would not be able to clear our fields for wheat sowing on time and this would cost us heavily,” said Madan Lal, a farmer of Yamunanagar district.

Sugarcane farmers’ leader Satpal Kaushik accused the government and opposition parties of failing to protect the interest of farmers. “The cane control board meeting was called to discuss the issues and fix schedule for the crushing season, but they did not take any decision to ensure all mills run on time. Even the SAP was not fixed,” he rued.