Dharmapuri: Sugarcane cultivators in Palacode have called on the Dharmapuri Cooperative Sugar Mill to begin crushing operations earlier than scheduled, citing the impact of erratic weather that has caused premature flowering in sugarcane crops, reported The New Indian Express.
The Dharmapuri Cooperative Sugar Mill, the largest in the district, processed 1.37 lakh tonnes of sugarcane during the 2023-24 season, achieving a recovery rate of 10.10%. Farmers were paid Rs 3,565 per tonne. However, with a decrease in the area under cultivation, mill authorities announced a delay in the start of crushing, a decision that has left farmers frustrated, as per the media report.
“Sugarcane is a crop that yields profit once a year, taking about 10 to 11 months to mature. Because of this, many farmers have shifted to shorter-term crops. Still, hundreds of farmers continue to cultivate sugarcane in Palacode,” said P. Kannan, a farmer from Kesarguli.
Kannan explained that early flowering in sugarcane causes a reduction in both sucrose and water content, ultimately affecting farmers’ profits and the mill’s sugar recovery rate. “Farmers need the mill to operate early, as delayed crushing could lead to financial losses for both farmers and the mill,” he added.
S. Shanmugam, a farmer from Vellichandai, highlighted the financial implications. “Sugarcane is priced by weight. Last season, farmers received around Rs 3,500 per tonne. When flowering occurs, the weight of the cane decreases, directly affecting farmers’ earnings,” he said.
