Sugarcane has begun to taste bitter for farmers in Srikakulam district owing to lack of remunerative price in the absence of cooperative sugar factories in the district.
The farmers sell their produce to a private sugar factory located in Sankili near Rajam. Some of the growers are selling the produce to middlemen, as they are not able to bear the cost of transportation to sugar factories located in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.
According to farmers, they get only Rs. 2,000 for a quintal of sugarcane. The output is up to 16 to 18 tonnes per acre, but they incur an expenditure of Rs. 35,000 on an acre with the increase in wages of labourers. A farmer hardly gets Rs. 25,000 per acre for his one year’s hard work. They have to incur losses if weather plays spoilsport.
The condition of tenant farmers is pitiable, as they have to pay additional amount to the land owners. “We have been requesting the private sugar factory and middlemen to increase the price for many months. Their assurance to hike the price is yet to be implemented.
More farmers would grow sugarcane if remunerative price is offered,” said a B. Appanna, a farmer of Gokavalasa in Narasannapeta mandal.
Sugarcane was grown on 80,000 acres when Amadalvalasa sugar factory was in operation. Now, the crop is grown only on 25,000 acres.
The factory, the only government-run agro-based factory, used to provide livelihood to many farmers .
