Small jaggery producers and sugarcane farmers in the state should also be extended the benefits of the Jaggery Incentive Scheme, said k. Senthil Kumar, additional Chief Secretary of the Sugarcane Industry Department on Friday, reported Punjab Kesari.
Addressing a review meeting with departmental officials, he directed that small jaggery producers and sugarcane farmers in the state should also be extended the benefits of the Jaggery Incentive Scheme. He instructed officials to take steps for restarting closed sugar mills, setting up new sugar mills, and expanding sugarcane cultivation across the state.
Emphasising the need for better yields, the ACS said farmers must be trained in improved cultivation practices. Under this initiative, around 3,000 sugarcane farmers from the state will be sent to other states to interact with progressive farmers and learn value-added farming methods. Departmental officers will accompany them, and a consolidated report will be submitted to the department after each training programme. The objective is to adopt advanced and effective farming practices followed in leading sugarcane- and jaggery-producing states and implement them uniformly in the state.
The ACS said special subsidy schemes should be designed to support farmers in sugarcane planting, irrigation and harvesting. He stressed that farmers should receive crop insurance benefits on time in case of damage to sugarcane crops. To encourage farmers and promote the adoption of innovative techniques, a state-level Sugarcane Festival will be organised.
He also directed officials to ensure that all eligible farmers in the state receive benefits under the Sugarcane Mechanisation Scheme. The review meeting was attended by the Joint Director (Cane Development), the Officer on Special Duty and other senior officials.
