Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep ordered to form a District Level Technical Committee to look into the problems of Sugarcane growers.

A meeting of sugarcane farmers, officials and sugar factory representatives was held at the DC’s office here this morning.

The farmers alleged that the sugar factories in Belagavi had announced to pay Rs. 3,000 advance for cane cutting while the same was not fixed by sugar factories in Mysuru region.

They also added that farmers in Belagavi were being paid Rs. 3,600 per tonne of sugarcane including the cutting and transportation charges. But, the farmers in this region were denied of the same.

Responding to this, the representatives of Bannari Amman Sugar Factory and Kunthur Sugar Factory said that the quality of sugarcane yield was low compared to the one available in Belagavi region. They said the quality of sugarcane in Mysuru region had come down from 70 percent in 2011 to 30 percent this year. Expressing his objection, State Sugarcane Farmers Association President Kurbur Shanthakumar said that the factories had themself declared that the yield was of low quality and there was no official committee appointed. Later, he suggested DC Randeep to appoint a technical committee to look into the issue.

DC Randeep, responding to the suggestion, agreed to form a technical committee including sugar experts, officials and farmers for which the sugar factory representatives agreed and assured to extend their support to the committee. The farmers also alleged that sugar factories in Mysuru region were procuring 200 loads of sugarcane from Mandya district while sugarcane in Mysuru was available in abundance.

To this, DC Randeep instructed the factory representatives to procure sugarcane on priority basis.  

Food and Civil Supplies Senior Deputy Director Dr. K. Rameshwarappa, Agriculture Joint Director Somasundar, KRRS District President Hosur Kumar, Bannari Amman Sugar Factory Manager Velusami, Kunthur Sugar Factory Sugarcane Development Officer Raghavendra Taggi and others were present.