Josinho D'Costa at his sugarcane plantation at Molcornem in Sanguem constituency.
Photo Credits: The Goan
SANGUEM
Shifting from one place to another to enable the construction of Selaulim Dam had been one challenge, but switching to sugarcane cultivation and facing uncertain times for five years has been an even greater challenge confronting sugarcane farmers from Sanguem taluka.
Hundreds of sugarcane farmers are worried about the future of sugarcane plantations in Goa, following the closure of the Sanjivani Sugarcane Factory in 2019.
While the State government had promised to either revamp outdated equipment with modern machinery or to start an ethanol plant to continue sugarcane production in Goa, nothing has really worked out for sugarcane producers.
Sugarcane production in Sanguem took shape when the original inhabitants of Curdi village in Sanguem were rehabilitated at Wadem and Valkini, to pave the way for the construction of Selaulim Dam.
A majority of these evacuees opted for sugarcane cultivation, turning Sanguem into the largest producer of sugarcane in Goa.
“With the closure of Sanjivani Sugarcane factory, around 100 sugarcane farmers in Sanguem taluka have abandoned sugarcane production in the last five years. Of the 700 sugarcane producers left, many have not taken much interest in sugarcane cultivation,” said executive member of All-Goa Sugarcane Producers Association and a progressive farmer, Francisco Mascarenhas from Sanguem.
There has also been a sizeable drop in sugarcane cultivation in Sanguem taluka. “During 2019-20, Sanguem taluka accounted for about 28,000 tonnes of sugarcane production and this production has dropped to around 10,000 tonnes during the current crop season,” said Mascarenhas.
Added another farmer Josinho D’Costa: “On the one hand, the government urges youth to venture into agriculture, and on the other hand, existing farmers are uncertain about their livelihood.”
Highlighting some of the challenges faced by sugarcane farmers, Mascarenhas said it is not easy to switch production from one crop to another as is otherwise done in other businesses.
“Farming involves a lot of hard work and a lot of effort needs to be put in getting the ground ready while switching production from one crop to another,” said Mascarenhas.
“The time taken by the newly adopted crop to yield results also needs to be taken into account by the government when compelling farmers to shift production to other crops.”
The other alternative available is to go for coconut farming but there is large-scale damage caused by monkeys who hardly keep any coconuts on the trees.”
Pointing out to other difficulties, Josinho D’Costa said: “When the cultivation was good, sugarcane farmers had happy days and even banks who would offer them loans based on sugarcane plantation. However, since the closure of Sanjivani Sugar Factory, banks and other co-operative societies have stopped giving us loans as farmers could face difficulties in the repayment of their loan.”
“For the last couple of years, I have cut down on sugarcane production and have shifted to production of other crops as there is no guarantee of Sanjivani Sugar Factory making a comeback.”
With the compensation period of five years due to end during the current season, sugarcane farmers are concerned about their occupation and livelihood. The farmers have planned a meeting at the Sanjivani Sugar Factory on December 10 to demand the continuation of payment of compensation till the time the crushing at Sanjivani Sugar Factory is put in place.
Francisco Mascarenhas said sugarcane farmers from the Sanguem region are in the process of handing over a memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the agriculture minister within the next few days to consider their demand to continue with the payment of existing compensation till the time the Sanjivani sugar factory is made operational.
Mascarenhas said sugarcane farmers in Sanguem taluka still hope the government restarts the Sanjivani sugar factory, thereby bringing back the glorious days for sugarcane producers in Goa.
