Nizamabad: The State government has expressed readiness to revive the Nizam Sugar Factory (NSF). Cane Commissioner G. Malsur announced this during an awareness meeting for farmers held in Yedapally, Nizamabad district, on Saturday, reported The Hindu.
Addressing the farmers, Malsur urged them to take up sugarcane cultivation on a large scale to ensure a steady supply of raw materials required for NSF. He noted that the awareness meeting was part of the government’s plans to bring NSF back into operation.
The event saw participation from legislators P. Sudarshan Reddy, R. Bhoopathi Reddy, and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, along with Nizamabad District Collector Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu, former minister Mandava Venkateswara Rao, and a large number of farmers. Agriculture scientists Balaji Naik and Vijay Kumar briefed the farmers about local conditions conducive to sugarcane cultivation, the availability of modern farming equipment, advanced crop management techniques, high-yielding varieties, and profitability.
Officials from the industries department stated that NSF, which completely shut down in 2015, would need at least 3,500 tonnes of sugarcane daily for crushing to operate during the season, which lasts about 130 days a year.
During the meeting, Sudarshan Reddy assured farmers that the government was prepared to extend all necessary assistance if they committed to sugarcane cultivation. He emphasized the government’s commitment to reviving NSF and highlighted that ₹190 crore in pending dues had already been cleared. He added that the government was also prepared to reopen NSF’s distillery unit.
Advisor (Agriculture) to the government, Srinivas Reddy, along with Bhoopathi Reddy and Venkateswara Rao, encouraged farmers to shift to sugarcane cultivation as a more profitable alternative to paddy. They pointed out that modern machinery had reduced cultivation costs and high-yielding varieties further increased profitability.
Malsur explained that a committee of elected representatives and officials had conducted a field visit and recommended sugarcane cultivation on about 18,000 acres to sustain the factory for one crushing season. He assured farmers that the government would provide seed sugarcane at subsidized rates.
Farmers attending the meeting sought assurances from the government regarding subsidized seed supply, timely bill payments, State incentives in addition to those provided by the Centre, drip irrigation systems on subsidy, solar fencing, harvesters, and other farm equipment. Agriculture Commission member G. Gangadhar, DCCB Chairman Ramesh Reddy, DCMS Chairman Tarachand Naik, and other officials also participated in the meeting.
