Farmers in Goa have reacted with both relief and concern after the state government announced plans to revive the Sanjeevani Sugar Factory while presenting the annual budget in the state assembly, Gomantak reported.
While the announcement has raised hopes among farmers, many believe that a declaration alone will not be enough to restart the mill. They say the factory will need a steady supply of sugarcane and that proper planning must begin immediately to ensure the availability of raw material.
Farmers have also expressed concern that if the groundwork is not done in advance, the announcement could turn out to be a political promise made to please farmers ahead of elections.
The Sanjeevani sugar factory is the only sugar mill in Goa. In the past, the government had asked farmers to shift to other crops after the mill stopped operations. As a result, several farmers removed sugarcane from their fields and began cultivating other crops.
Many farmers have since planted crops such as coconut and areca nut, and they say it will not be easy to clear those plantations and return to sugarcane cultivation.
Farmers say the government must work on two fronts — repairing the sugar mill and assessing how much land is currently available for sugarcane cultivation. They suggest that a special team under the agriculture department should be formed to collect detailed information on existing sugarcane fields and the additional land that may need to be prepared for the crop.
Based on this data, authorities can estimate how much sugarcane can be produced, whether it will be enough for the factory, and how much may fall short. Such information will be necessary before planning sugar or ethanol production, farmers said.
They also pointed out that repairing the mill alone will not guarantee its restart. Farmers will need assurance that their sugarcane will be purchased.
According to them, banks and financial institutions usually provide loans for sugarcane cultivation only when there is a guarantee that the crop will be procured. Without a written assurance from the government, lenders may hesitate to extend credit to farmers.
