With only a day left for Pongal, people have already got into the festive mood with an additional holiday announced on Friday for schools. But sugarcane farmers in Madurai district, particularly those from Melur region, are a worried lot with a poor yield and unremunerative prices.
The area below Albert Victor bridge, one of the few places in the city that witnesses brisk sale of sugarcane ahead of Pongal, was full of anxious farmers and middlemen on Friday, expecting to sell off the bundles of sugarcane for a reasonable price. The farmers generally handle sale of sugarcane in bundles and loads. Fifteen sticks form a bundle and 20 bundles form a load.
“I bought sugarcane at ₹5,000 per load from a few villages near Melur. After factoring in the vehicle and labour costs, I need to sell them at least at ₹ 6,500 or ₹ 7,000 to make a meagre profit. However, the sale so far is not that good,” said R.N. Pandi, a middleman from Melur. He said that the price of ₹ 5,000 per load was not profitable to farmers as well.
“However, they have no choice since they have to harvest and sell it before Pongal,” he added.
N. Maruthupandi, a farmer from Ettimangalam, said that the yield and cultivated area of sugarcane, which is a 10-month crop, were less this year, owing to successive years of drought.
“Every year, we invest in cultivation by borrowing money, with the hope that we could repay the loan taken the previous season. However, last three years have been worse with no profit,” he said, adding that he left two loads of sugarcane near Albert Victor bridge last year since he could not sell them for a fair price before Pongal.
“The price came down so low that people were asking a bundle for ₹ 20 or ₹ 30. I felt heartbroken and left the place on the day of Pongal,” he said.
K. Ganeshwari, a farmer N. Kovilpatti, blamed the government for involving middlemen in the purchase of sugarcane for free distribution ahead of Pongal. “Government purchasing sugarcane is good. However, it must do it directly,” she said, pointing out that three loads of sugarcane bought by a middleman were returned to her on Thursday.
“After purchasing, they said that the sugarcane was not adequately tall. In a drought season, how can they expect sugarcane to grow at least six feet tall,” she asked.
She also complained that the government must make direct cash payment at the time of purchase instead of paying through cheque. “For instance, a few loads were bought for distribution through a cooperative society in Coimbatore. I had to go to Coimbatore to collect the cheque,” she said.
