Yamunanagar: Sugarcane crushing at the Saraswati Sugar Mills (SSM) in Yamunanagar will commence on November 18, marking the start of the crushing season in Haryana. One of the country’s largest sugar mills, SSM has set a target of crushing 1.25 crore quintals of sugarcane during the current season.
SSM Chief Executive S.K. Sachdeva said that all preparations have been completed for the smooth start of operations. He added that the mill would begin crushing on November 18 to ensure timely processing of sugarcane and support to farmers.
According to available information, around 21,000 farmers from Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Ambala districts are associated with the mill. Last year, SSM had started crushing on November 12 and processed about 1.4 crore quintals of sugarcane, reported The Tribune.
The announcement has been welcomed by farmers, as the timely start of operations will allow them to clear their fields for wheat sowing soon after harvesting their cane crop.
This year, the Haryana Government has fixed the sugarcane price at Rs. 415 per quintal for the early variety. Lalit Kumar, Vice-President (Cane) of SSM, said the mill has set up 45 purchase centres across its command area. Farmers can also deliver sugarcane directly to the mill. He added that a new token system has been introduced to reduce waiting time, enabling farmers to schedule deliveries conveniently and supply their produce quickly.
D.P. Singh, Senior Vice-President (Administration) of SSM, urged farmers to cooperate by supplying all their sugarcane to the mill. He said that the mill has also made improvements in the sugarcane scheduling, slip distribution, and payment processes to ensure greater efficiency and transparency this season.
