Mandya: In a positive turn of events for farmers in the Mandya region, MySugar, a state-owned sugar factory, has emerged beneficial for them. Overcoming past challenges, the factory successfully processed 2.4 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane this year, marking a substantial increase from 2022, reported The Times of India.
MySugar’s resumption of sugarcane crushing in 2022 marked a pivotal moment, having previously ceased operations in 2017-18 due to issues related to boilers and turbines. The factory’s financial struggles led to the transfer of operations to private player under a lease agreement. However, amidst opposition from farmers and various organizations, the decision was made to bring the factory back under government management.
Despite a modest performance in 2022, where the factory processed only 1.01 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, a meager sugar yield prompted discussions about privatising the facility. Subsequently, a governmental allocation of Rs 50 crore for rejuvenation breathed new life into MySugar, turning the tide in favor of the public-sector enterprise.
While the factory fell short of its targeted 4.5 lakh metric tonnes, timely payments to farmers have provided much-needed relief. Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha Mandya district president Kempugowda expressed farmers’ satisfaction with MySugar’s revival, urging authorities to replicate the success in the ensuing years. He emphasised the importance of introducing co-generation and distillery operations for the benefit of the farming community.
According to the news report published in The Times of India, since the commencement of crushing in July, MySugar has disbursed a total of Rs 68.5 crore to farmers, demonstrating a commitment to fulfilling financial obligations promptly. “With the remittance of timely payment, the factory has been able to fulfil its promise. We have also floated a fresh tender for a new crushing agent and we hope to crush a minimum of 4 lakh metric tonne sugarcane during 2024-25,” said Mandya additional deputy commissioner HL Nagaraj, who is also the in-charge general manager of MySugar.
