Team Herald
SANGUEM: With uncertainty looming over the fate of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory at Dharbandora, sugarcane farmers have begun shifting their cultivation to coconut, and areca nuts. Sugarcane produce in the State has seen a gradual decline in the last seven years, while the only sugar-producing factory is shut indefinitely. A meagre quantity of sugarcane produced by Goan farmers is sent to Karnataka for extraction of sugar.
Initially, the factory was shut for maintenance and re-opening was delayed citing the need for replacement of worn-out machinery. Ultimately, a proposal to construct a new factory with the latest machinery was discussed, but that never materialised.
When the factory was fully functional, sugarcane was imported from neighbouring States, to balance the economy.
