Sugarcane area decreases in Nellore

Nellore: Even though the state occupies seventh place across the country in sugarcane production, Nellore district has gradually been seeing reduction in its area due to many reasons such as less support price, long waiting for dues from the factories and other reasons that were pushing the cultivation on tenterhooks. Majority farmers are shifting to hassle-free paddy cultivation where there is no scope for crushing, and other difficulties.

Though it is a long duration crop and requires 10-18 months to mature, depending upon the geographical conditions. But, the farmers in many places have been cultivating sugarcane as the region falls under hot and humid climate zone.

The area and production of sugarcane in Nellore district was 8,000 hectares and 7.32 lakh tonnes respectively during the year 2005-2006. The production had subsequently recorded 9.76 lakh tonnes in 2011-12, but it fell to 8.18 lakh tonnes in 2013-14.

Though the area of sugarcane increased to 9,061 hectares in 2011-12, again declined to 7,835 hectares in 2013-14, according to officials. There are two sugar factories in the district. One at Podalakur and the other at Naidupet and around 5,500 hectares of the crop, on an average, was being cultivated in the previous years.

But, the area drastically reduced to 1,400 acres now where crushing capacity of these two factories is around 6.5 lakh tonnes. Now, these factories are getting crop of around 2-2.5 lakh tonnes.

“Considering MSP announced by the Sugarcane Development Board, a local factory at Podalakur announced Rs 2,750 per tonne. But, the farmers are demanding at least Rs 3,500 to 4,000 per tonne,” said farmer K Raghurami Reddy from Sangam area.

Even though Sugarcane Board officials are saying cultivation and crushing has to be increased in the district keeping in view of future of the farmers and the factories.

They say example of Kovur Cooperative Sugars which was closed some years ago due to many crop related issues. According the present cultivation dynamics, farmers are incurring a minimum of around Rs 30,000 per acre that comes around 75,000 per hectare.

When they get a support price of Rs 1.1 lakh per hectare, farmers would not be able to get much benefit considering weather related problems and other incidental expenditure.

But, there are apprehensions that there would be difficulties to the farmers with the current MSP which pushes them into troubles. They ask the intervention of the state government to support the farmers for protecting them from incurring huge losses.

By P V Prasad