Bheemasingi Sugars seeks technological support

Bheemasingi (Vizianagaram): The recent decision taken by the government to revive, renovate the sugar factories in Andhra Pradesh provides new hopes to Bheemasingi sugars in this district. The Vizianagaram district has Vijayaramagajapathi Cooperative sugars in Bheemasingi village of Jami mandal. The firm was established about 45 years ago and has been facing problems with outdated technology and equipment.

Due to the age-old mechanism, the recovery of juice from sugar cane is also coming down. Though the company is in Vizianagaram district, it has been supporting the farmers of Jami, L Kota, S Kota, Vizianagaram and Padmanabham mandal of Visakhapatnam district. Around 20,000 farmers are supplying sugar cane to this firm. But the number of farmers and crop area has been gradually decreasing for the past some years as the management is failed to clear the bills in right time. As of now, the firm has to pay a loan of Rs 9 crore to AP Cooperative Bank.

Due to scarcity of water, the farmers are stepping back from growing sugar cane and the cultivation area is declining gradually.

K Appalanaidu of Bheemasingi village, said, "Previously I used to grow sugarcane in my five acres of land, but now we have reduced it to one acre due to shortage of water and we have no support from sugar factory too. If we are encouraged by the government and factory, we are ready to grow the cane.''

V Ramana Rao, Managing Director of the Bheemasingi Cooperative Sugars said, "Yes we are in deep troubles as the machinery like boilers and other equipment is age old and their performance is not up to the mark. But we, with the support of workers and staff have been maintaining the firm tactfully. If the government supports us by providing advanced technology and updated machinery, then the performance would be good and we can increase our business. As per my assumption, around Rs 15-20 crores are required to revamp the firm. We need to support the farmers and the cultivated land extent also should be increased. A committee formed by the government would visit the firm and study the reality and condition of the firm and based on the report, the government would take a decision. We along with farmers are expecting a handhold support to this factory." Performance Bheemasingi sugars has been coming down in the past few years as indicated below.