Panaji: Sugarcane farmers in Goa took to the streets on Tuesday, staging a protest to demand the reopening of ‘Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana,’ Goa’s sole sugar factory, which ceased operations in 2020. Rajendra Desai, the President of the ‘Goa Us Utpadan Sanghatana’ (Sugarcane Producers Association), expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government has failed to fulfill its commitment to resume operations at the sugar factory, reported IANS.
Desai, in conversation with media persons, asserted that the government had assured the farmers of restarting the sugar factory following a protest in July last year. However, he lamented that no concrete steps have been taken by the government to honor that commitment. Highlighting the significant impact on over 600 farmers dependent on sugarcane cultivation, Desai stressed the urgency of addressing their concerns.
The Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, established in 1972 as Goa’s only sugar factory, faced financial losses over the past decade. Operations ceased four years ago, with initial plans to install a new plant yet to materialize. Local farmers have been compelled to sell their produce in neighboring states since the factory’s closure in 2020. The ongoing protest seeks to draw attention to the plight of these farmers and press the government for concrete actions to reopen the sugar factory, a vital economic lifeline for the agrarian community.
