Sugarcane crushing operations in the Salem Cooperative Sugar Mill at Mohanur for the year 2015-16 commenced here on Saturday.
Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy along with officials dropped a sugarcane bunch into the conveyor and inaugurated the crushing season.
He said that 3.70 lakh tonnes of sugarcane has been proposed to be crushed during the current season obtained from 4,353 acres.
During 2014-15, about 3.59 lakh tonnes of sugarcane was crushed with an average sugar recovery of 8.69 per cent. The Collector added that farmers would be credited the amount to their bank accounts within 14 days after receiving the sugarcane.
The mill was selected at the national level for best technical performance for 2014-15 and bagged the second prize. Officials said that maintenance works were carried out for the smooth functioning of the mill in the current season and asked farmers to cooperate.
They added that the molasses-based distillery, which produces rectified spirit, will also begin operations. Managing Director of the Mill R. Priya, Administrative Committee chairman M. Sivabagyam and officials participated.
