JOIN USRenewed activity at MySugar factory is sweet news for farmers
MySugar factory in Mandya has been abuzz with activity for the past one month. This has raised the hopes of farmers and the people in the region that the factory will resume operations soon.
The factory, which is the lifeline of the people of Mandya district, has stopped crushing for the past three years. The renewed activities have raised hopes that the factory would resume operations from July 15, the date set by District in-charge Minster M Krishnappa.
According to sources, the Boiler Inspector is expected to visit the factory on May 27 and issue a certificate. Around 4,000 tonnes of bagasse (sugarcane husk) and 2,000 tonnes of firewood have already been collected for beginning the power generation unit. With 2.5 lakh tonnes of sugarcane grown in the region, discussions are being held with farmers for procurement.
Puttaswamy Gowda, the new Sugarcane Development Officer of the factory, has approached cane growers and issued permission for a supply of cane grown on one lakh hectares.
Salaries disbursed
Speaking to DH, an employee of MySugar said that the management recently released one month’s salary and they hope that the factory would begin functioning by July 15.
The boiler was started on April 14 on Ambedkar Jayanti. District in-charge Minister Krishnappa, MLA Ambareesh and others participated in the puja and promised to provide all financial help to revive the MySugar factory.
MySugar Managing Director Prakash said that both the factory and the power generation unit will be started at the same time and all preparations are being made to ensure that the factory becomes functional. Raw materials have been procured and salaries have been disbursed to the employees to instil confidence among them, he said.
“Interviews have been held at the factory’s Bengaluru office for filling the posts of engineers. The appointments will be made on a contract basis,” he said.
Challenges ahead
He said the biggest challenge before the factory is fixing the price for sugarcane. “The jaggery-making units are ready to pay Rs 3,200 per tonne. As per the Centre’s directive they should pay Rs 2,550 per tonne. The excess price is decided by the state government. Discussions are on to fix a scientific price so that farmers are not disappointed,” Prakash said.
Emotional bond
Raitha Sangha district unit president Shambunahalli Suresh said that farmers will supply sugarcane even if the factory pays Rs 100 less as they share an emotional bonding with the factory.
“The Sugar minister has failed to take any step to begin the factory. The ministers are succumbing to the lobby of private factories. Stopping of MySugar is the reason behind the rise in suicide of farmers in the district. The situation is sure to improve once the factory becomes operational,” he said.