PONDA: Expressing concerns over the Sanjivani sugarcane factory’s future, sugarcane farmers raised doubts whether the government intends to replace the old machinery with a new one.
At the meeting orgainsed by the Sanjivani Sugarcane Farmers’ Association, which was chaired by president Rajendra Desai at the factory premises at Dharbandora, the farmers discussed the issues related to factory which have affected their interest.
The farmers raised their apprehensions as they saw no sign of replacing old machinery as promised to them by Government.
Francis Mascarenhas, a farmer from Sanguem said, “We are worried as there is no sign of installing the new machinery at the Sanjeevani Factory. We were assured by Cooperation Minister Govind Gaude that a new Rs 100 crore worth machinery will be installed at Sanjivani Sugar Factory by replacing the 45-year-old one. With no signs of installing the new machinery, we doubt whether the factory would be operational in future or not. Further, it was promised to cultivate sugarcane near the factory. However, no initiative has been taken to cultivate the same.”
The worried farmers said following Government’s decision not have the crushing season this year at Sanjeevani, they started sending their sugarcane production to Khanapur –Karnataka-based sugar factory. However, next year, the farmers said they won’t send it to Karnataka but would deliver the produce directly to Sanjivani factory for crushing.
They said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should think about the farmers. The farmers later submitted memorandum to Damodar Morajkar, Administrator of Sanjeevani Sugar Factory informing him about their problems and demands.
The farmers said so far only 4800 tonnes of sugarcane have been harvested and sent to Karnataka factory. However, there are only 33 harvesting labour groups and hence government should provide more groups to cut the sugarcane on time.
They said there is around 25000 tonnes of sugarcane yet to be harvested and if these 33 groups are given the job then it would take another five months to cut the same.
The farmers said to cultivate the sugarcane in 4000 square metres, they borrow a loan of around Rs 45,000 and the government should ensure that the farmers do not suffer any problem in clearing the loans on time.
