PONDA
Leaders of the Goa Sugarcane Producers Association, a group of cultivators supplying sugarcane to the Sanjeevani Sugar Factory met Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Saturday and discussed with him the issues relating to the Sugarcane factory.
Goa Sugarcane Producers Association President Rajendra Desai and Vice-President Harshad Prabhudesai said the minister has assured them that efforts are being made by the agriculture department to start the ethanol project and that, he would pursue the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Naik is reported to have told them that he has initiated the process to start the ethanol project and a file in this regard has been sent to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. If the ethanol project is started in the factory, the problem of sugarcane producers and workers will be resolved, the minister added.
Citing continuous losses and outdated machinery at the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, the government had shut down the factory in 2019. The government had, however, assured sugarcane farmers that the factory would restart either improvised machinery or an alternate ethanol plant would be set up at the factory to resolve the issue of sugarcane farmers.
Incidentally at the time of closure of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, the government had assured payment of compensation to the farmers for a period of five years, ranging from Rs 3,000 per tonne in the first year, Rs 2,800 in the second year and Rs 2,600, Rs 2,400 and Rs 2,200 per tonne for the remaining term of three years. While there is no sign of Sanjivani Sugar Factory showing signs of a comeback and with the five-year term of compensation getting over this year, sugarcane farmers are worried and left to ponder over uncertainty the next year.
