TEAM HERALD
PONDA: As the Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana (sugar factory) at Dharbandora is getting ready to kick start its annual crushing season from November 20, officials expect increase in local sugarcane production by about 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes.
The public sector sugar factory which is running into losses, yearly procures about 1.35 lakh tonnes of sugarcane from Goa and neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka to produce sugar.
“Last year, the local sugarcane production was about 47,000 tonnes and this year we expect 55,000 tonnes. The rest needed is procured from Maharashtra and Karnataka,” informed Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana (SSSK) Managing Director Prakash Jamble.
“Rise in local sugarcane produce could be attributed to various reasons like introduction of new varieties, more area under cultivation and good rate given per tonne to farmers,” added Jamble.
According to information, 95 kilo sugar is obtained from a tonne of sugarcane and annually on an average the sugar factory processes about 1.35 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.
“Presently, about 10 per cent of the total sugar produced during 2012-13 is remaining with us and the rest has been sold in the open market,” informed Jamble.
The factory has about 180 workers and during crushing season services of over 150 daily wage workers is utilized.
According to sources, there are plans to replace the old machinery with technologically advanced machinery in the factory which was established in 1972-73.
