MySugar achieves 7% of yield this year, pays farmers
Mandya: MySugar, a state-owned sugar factory, has proved to be a boon for farmers in the region.
After overcoming previous challenges, the factory crushed 2.4 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane this year, a significant increase from the one lakh metric tonnes in 2022. The sugar factory has also been able to achieve 7 per cent of sugar
The last time MySugar took up the crushing of sugarcane was in 2017-18, which was later stopped owing to issues related to boilers and turbines. The factory had also landed in huge debts which forced the authorities to hand over the operations to private players on a lease. With farmers and various other organisations opposing the move to hand over the factory on a lease, it was decided that the factory will be run by the government.
Though the factory recommenced its operation in 2022, it did not get the desired results as it could only manage to crush about 1.01 lakh tonne sugarcane resulting in a low yield of sugar. Unhappy with the results, a few even suggested handing over the factory to private companies.
After the government released Rs 50 crore for its rejuvenation, things have turned around for the PSU.
Though the authorities had targeted to crush about 4.5 lakh metric tonnes, the factory could meet half of the desired target. However, the farmers of the region have heaved a sigh of relief with MySugar making timely payments.
Speaking to TOI, Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha Mandya district president Kempugowda said that the farmers are relieved with the recommencement of MySugar and added that the authorities should ensure that the same pattern is followed in the coming years by starting co-generation and distillery which would be more beneficial for the farmers.
MySugar has remitted a total of Rs 68.5 crore with the farmers since the crushing began in July. The factory has been crushing 3,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane every day. MySugar has created trust among the farmers who have supplied sugarcane this season. “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.
The MySugar authorities are also hoping that the government would approve the plan for the construction of a new plant for which a proposal has already been submitted. The authorities have suggested the plant be constructed at Sathanur Farm.
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