Tamil Nadu : Farmers worry as the sugar mill in Dharmapuri is yet to start crushing
Sugarcane farmers in Palacode, Dharmapuri, are urging the Dharmapuri Cooperative Sugarmill to begin crushing operations earlier than scheduled due to erratic weather, which has caused premature flowering in their crops. This weather pattern has reduced sucrose and water content, leading to lower profits for farmers and impacting the mill’s sugar recovery rate. The district’s sugarcane cultivation area has also declined, with only 31% of the target area cultivated so far. Farmers fear that delayed crushing could exacerbate these issues.
Dharmapuri: Sugarcane farmers in Palacode have urged the Dharmapuri Cooperative Sugarmill to begin crushing operations earlier than scheduled, as erratic weather conditions have caused premature flowering in their crops, reports The New Indian Express.
The Dharmapuri Cooperative Sugarmill, the largest in the district, processed 1.37 lakh tonnes of sugarcane in the 2023-24 season with a recovery rate of 10.10%. Farmers received ₹3,565 per tonne for their produce. However, with a decline in cultivation area, mill authorities announced a delay in crushing operations this year, a decision that has left farmers worried.
Speaking to a reporter, a farmer from the region, explained, “Sugarcane is a long-term crop that takes 10 to 11 months to mature, so many farmers have shifted to short-term, more profitable crops. However, hundreds still invest in sugarcane cultivation. Now, due to early flowering, the sucrose and water content in the cane will drop, reducing both farmer profits and the mill’s sugar recovery rate.”
Another farmer from a nearby village pointed out that sugarcane is priced based on weight. “Last season, a farmer earned around ₹3,500 per tonne. With early flowering, the cane loses weight, cutting into our profits,” he said.
A sugarcane cultivator from Palacode added that extreme weather fluctuations had impacted cultivation. “Between March and May, we suffered an intense drought. Then, cyclone Fengal brought heavy rains. These erratic weather patterns have caused premature flowering. The mill usually starts crushing in January, but officials have told us it may be delayed due to low production,” he said.
According to the Agriculture Department, Dharmapuri district typically has around 2,920 hectares under sugarcane cultivation. For 2024-25, the target was set at 2,800 hectares, but only 878 hectares—just 31% of the target—have been cultivated so far.
An agriculture official attributed this decline to the unpredictable climate. “The district faced a severe heat wave this summer, discouraging many farmers from growing sugarcane,” the official said.
Despite repeated attempts, Dharmapuri Cooperative Sugarmill Managing Director Ravi was unavailable for comment.
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Source : Chinimandi
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