SANGUEM: With the State government showing no signs of re-opening or renovating the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, nor making any headway in the establishment of an ethanol plant as proposed in 2021, the sugarcane farmers from Sanguem say they are left staring at a bleak future, confused and anxious about what to do next, in terms of an occupation.
A large gathering of sugarcane farmers from Sanguem held a meeting at Wadem on Sunday, and demanded that the government immediately reopen the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, or set up the Ethanol plant at the earliest, failing which, they have threatened to hold widespread agitations.
“Sugarcane cultivation is our lifeline and we have exclusively depended on our plantations for several decades now. With the closure of the sugar factory, the government has taken away our only source of income and livelihood,” claimed sugarcane farmer Patcy Fernandes.
“We are shareholders of the land owned by Sanjivani Sugar Factory and neither the factory officials nor the government has any right to alienate or sell the land owned by the sugar factory,” added Sagun Gaonkar, another farmer.
Navso Babo Rekdo said that around 800 families in the state depended on the Sanjivani Sugar Factory for their survival. “The government cannot abruptly close the sugar factory, as we have been feeding our families solely from the income generated from sugarcane cultivation. The government cannot simply run away from its responsibilities,” said Rekdo.
Francisco Mascarenhas, who is also a core committee member of the Sugarcane Producers Association recalled that former Minister for Agriculture Govind Gaude had promised the sugarcane cultivators that the government would compensate them for five years, at a rate of Rs 3,000 per tonne of sugarcane for the first year, decreasing the compensation amount by Rs 200 for every consecutive year. “During this period of five years, he assured that the government will set up the Ethanol Plant so that the farmers could later continue with their sugarcane cultivation and supply the raw material to the Ethanol Plant,” he said. “The government never told us that the Sanjivani Sugar Factory will be closed forever,” he lamented, adding that the authorities were now toying with the sentiments of the sugarcane farmers.
The aggrieved farmers have threatened to take to the streets in protest, if the government does not give them clarity on steps taken to safeguard their occupation of farming.
