Berhampur: The Ganjam District Sugarcane Growers Association (GDSGA) has urged the district administration, in a meeting held with collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, to start the sugar mills by the first week of January. They also demanded the government to hike the sugarcane price to Rs 3,500 per tonne.
Samir Pradhan, president, GDSGA said the farmers have grown sugarcane crops on 8,000 acres of land in 16 blocks. The farmers are expecting a bumper yield but they can be only benefited if sugarcane price is increased.
He claims that the cost of sugarcane production is high as prices of fertiliser, seeds and other input costs have gone up. Association also urged that farmers must be paid for the sugarcane supplied to Aska Cooperative Sugar Industries Limited (ASCIL).
