Nayagarh: There is a substantial decline in the area under sugarcane cultivation in Nayagarh district, which was once known as the ‘sugar bowl’ of Odisha with record sugarcane output, a report said.
While sugarcane was grown in around 4,500 hectares in the district in 2012-13, it has shrunk to 1,650 hectares now. Farmers cited the closure of the Panipoila-based sugar factory, the only one in the district, for the decline in output.
If the situation persists with no help for cane growers from the government, sugarcane cultivation may end in the district. “The government should give soft loans and open sugar factories,” a farmer said.
According to government statistics, around 4,500 hectares were used for cultivating sugarcane in 2012-13, and it yielded around 2,90,840 tonnes of cane. Similarly, in 2013-14, sugarcane was cultivated in 4,450 hectares, and it yielded 2,68,574 tonnes of cane.
In 2014-15, the area under sugarcane was 3,240 hectares and it yielded 1,65,643 tonnes. In 2015-16, sugarcane was cultivated on 2,320 hectares yielding 1,89,736 tonnes of cane. In 2016-17, farmers cultivated sugarcane on 1,650 hectares and produced 1,19,163 tonnes of cane. The data on sugarcane cultivation for 2017-18 is not available.
The government is doing nothing to revive the sugar mill that was closed in 2015. This has forced farmers to go to neighbouring states as bonded labourers, where they are subjected to inhuman torture, thanks to the negligence of public representatives and officials concerned.
Nayagarh was known for its high quality sugarcane and good yields. Considering the high production of sugarcane in the district, the foundation stone for a sugar mill was laid on a 143-acre site in Panipoili in April 1984. Panipoli is just 5 km away from Nayagarh town. The sugar mill was completed at a cost of Rs 18 crore in 1985 and production began in 1988.
But due to negligence the sugar mill ran into losses, and the owner closed it in 2015. Since then production has been declining as farmers are either turning to paddy or working as bonded labourers.
The farmers who are still cultivating sugarcane send their produce to a sugar mill in Dhenkanal. This leads to huge losses as transport costs are high. The poor farmers who cannot afford transportation costs are using crude methods to extract sugar and make molasses. Officials are not helping the farmers to make quality sugar and molasses.
“The administration should revive the sugar mill and help all sugarcane growers. Assistance should be given to increase sugarcane cultivation in the district,” a farmer said.
Sugarcane Planning Officer Sabyaranjan Mahapatra assured steps to help sugarcane farmers and get them government help.
PNN