Sugarcane recovery rate low in Goa

Sugarcane recovery rate low in Goa
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 20
Recovery Rate (RR) of sugar cane in other parts of the country is 10 per cent and above but in Goa it has much less and fluctuates between 7 and 8 per cent. 
Worried Sanjivani Sugar Factory (SSF), a lone sugar factory in the State, has now come out with a scheme to induce farmers to increase RR of their sugarcane.
As per the scheme , farmers will  get two  per cent  more  on the assured  price  of sugar cane  if  they  have  RR  between   9 and   9.5 per cent. 
If he manages to get RR above 9.5 per cent, he will be paid 4 per cent more on the assured price of sugarcane.
Last season, SSF paid Rs 1500 per metric ton for local farmers and rates fluctuate every season as per market demand.
Though, the State’s hot and humid conditions are to be blamed for low RR — other problems related to irrigation and harvesting are also contributory factors.
“Fertilizers have to be applied adequately and if not, it impacts RR. Sugarcane is water intensive crop and irregular irrigation can also hamper productivity,“ says SSP Tendulkar,  Director of  Agriculture.
Shefali Naik,  Chief Agriculture  Officer (CAO) of SSF says   immatured  harvesting  is  a major problem  as farmers do not  wait  till crop  is twelve months old. 
It takes a whole year for sugarcane crop to mature.
 “Farmers in Goa harvest during eighth or ninth month as soon as labourers are available, “she said.
Rajen  Dessai,  President of   Sugarcane  Growers Association (SGA) however says inadequate  irrigation  facilities   is one of the problems  besides un suitable climatic  conditions  that affects RR.
Farmers in neighbouring areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra get RR of 10 to 12 per cent   the average RR is less by 4 per cent.
The SSF procurers about 50 per cent of sugarcane from Karnataka and Maharashtra and finds it more profitable proposition due to higher RR.