Dindigul: With the Pongal festival just days away, sugarcane farmers in the Dindigul district are grappling with a host of challenges, including lower yields, a shortage of farmhands for harvesting, and stagnant procurement prices, reported The Hindu.
A local farmer expressed his concerns over the declining yield compared to previous years. Adding to his woes is the difficulty in finding workers for harvesting. “People are opting for other jobs instead of working in the fields. Even if they agree to work, they demand higher wages,” he said.
He noted that he had invested nearly ₹1 lakh in his crop but was unable to secure a fair price. “I’m selling at the same rate as a couple of years ago, making it difficult to break even. I can only cover my costs if I sell a bundle for ₹500,” he explained.
Farmers have called for an increase in the sugarcane allocation provided in the State government’s Pongal gift hampers, which currently includes one sugarcane per cardholder. “If this could be increased to at least two or even four sugarcanes, it would significantly boost procurement and benefit farmers,” Ganesan added. At present, farmers receive ₹23 per sugarcane, a rate they believe should be revised upwards.
The lack of profitability in sugarcane farming has led many farmers to sell their agricultural land, which is rapidly being converted into residential plots.
Another farmer, M. Ramakrishnan, suggested engaging workers from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme to address the labour shortage. “The agricultural sector should be prioritized. Additionally, sugarcane consumption has dropped—earlier, people bought bundles, but now they only buy one or two pieces,” he lamented.
An Agricultural Department official assured that sugarcane procurement is ongoing and is based on quality assessment. However, the challenges faced by farmers remain a pressing issue as the festive season approaches, highlighting the need for more robust measures to support the sector.
