Karnal: Sugarcane farmers in villages situated along the Yamuna River are grappling with a decline in production, causing distress as they received yields below last year’s average, reported Tribune India.
This year, the farmers recorded an average production of 370-380 quintals per acre, a noticeable decrease from the 450 quintals per acre averaged last year.
The diminished production has raised concerns among the farmers regarding their livelihoods. They attribute this decline to a combination of factors, including heavy rainfall, flooding during cultivation, a prolonged winter season, and attacks by diseases and pests. A sugarcane farmer from the region expressed his concerns, stating that the farmers have witnessed a fall in sugarcane production this season. On average, farmers produced around 370 quintals per acre, impacting our ability to meet even the input cost. The government should compensate the farming community that has suffered losses, he said. He highlighted the significant contribution of diseases and pests, along with floods, rainfall, and prolonged winter, to the overall losses.
While overall, sugar mills in Haryana till February 15, 2024, have crushed 42.16 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and produced 3.90 lakh tonnes of sugar. Whereas during the same period in the previous season, mills had crushed 40.32 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and produced 3.75 lakh tonnes of sugar.
