Cane crushing season yet to begin, farmers anxious

As the sugarcane crushing season of Shahabad Cooperative Sugar Mills is yet to begin, the farmers who want to sow wheat after sugarcane have started raising their concerns.

Sugarcane farmers said that the mills should start its operations in the first week of November so that they get adequate time to prepare the fields for the wheat crop. As per agricultural experts, November 10 to 25 is the optimum time for wheat sowing.

While in 2022, the sugar mills had started its crushing season on November 15, last year -- due to the impact of floods -- the season got a little delayed and started from November 23. This year, the season is expected to begin in the last week of November.

Harkesh Khanpur, a sugarcane farmer, said, “This year, the sugarcane crop was under pest attack including top borer, Pokkah Boeng and root borer. We spent a huge amount of money on insecticides and other medicines but the results were not good. While the cost of production has increased, the yield is on the lower side. The medicines were also not available on time. The sugar mills should start operations early so that the farmers can get their fields empty in time, get money and sow the wheat crop. Delayed sowing of wheat will also result in poor yield.”

Ramcharan, a farmer from Kharindwa village, said, “The crop is ready for harvesting. We have suffered heavy losses this year as repeated sprays caused extra financial burden. Due to higher cost, lower availability of labour and not-so-remunerative prices, farmers have started reducing areas under sugarcane crop in this region. Earlier, I used to grow sugarcane on 12-13 acres, but this year, it was reduced to 10 acres. I am planning it to reduce it further and start sowing other crops. The sugar mills should start operations early as delayed operations will result in delayed harvesting and delayed sowing of next crop.”

BKU (Charuni) spokesman Rakesh Bains said, “The area under sugarcane is declining and the yield is also on the lower side. After harvesting sugarcane, the farmers sow wheat for which they need money. Delay in harvesting will result in a shorter window for wheat sowing. Mills in other districts have started operations. We have raised the matter with officials of the sugar mills and we demand that the mills should ensure timely operation.”

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Shahabad Cooperative Sugar Mills, Virender Chaudhary, said, “A decline in the crop is being observed and the sugarcane is also yet to get fully matured. Diseases have also been reported but the overall situation is good. A target of crushing 62 lakh quintals of sugarcane has been set for this season. All the preparations have been made and the mills will start operations around November 26.”