Dharmagarh, Odisha: Due to inadequate marketing support, farmers are turning away from cane farming in Kalahandi district in Odisha. However, once it was known as a profitable crop here.
Few years ago cane was cultivated extensively on the banks of Tel and Hati rivers. The absence of sugar mills and rise in the cost of fertilizers, the farmers are shifting to other crops.
The farmers that used to cultivate cane in 15 acres of land are now reduced to 1 acre. They are now banking on jaggery production and selling in the local market. However, there are no takers for their produce due to import of jaggery from other parts.
According to reports, the state government had set a target of cultivation of sugarcane on 1 000 hectares land in Kalahandi district but the cane was grown on only 40 hectares in last season. A significant decline in Sugarcane cultivation has been recorded in Jaipatana, Dharmgarh, Golamunda and Junagarh blocks.
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