Dilip Khaire seeks Rs 4,000 per tonne first instalment from Someshwar sugar factory

Baramati: Dilip Khaire has demanded that Shri Someshwar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana announce a first instalment of at least Rs 4,000 per tonne for cane-growing farmers. He cited three reasons: cane production is down this year, competition among sugar factories has grown, and the cost of growing cane has risen.

Khaire said many factories in western Maharashtra are preparing to pay a first instalment of around Rs 3,500 to Rs 3,800 per tonne. Someshwar's sugar recovery last season was 12.27 per cent. Given its crushing performance and financial capacity, he said, a positive decision on a Rs 4,000 first instalment is necessary.

He also expected an additional incentive, varying by month, for cane crushed between December and March. To keep the crushing season long and reduce the amount of cane going to other factories, he said, an incentive rate scheme should be run from the start of the season. Under his demand, cane crushed in December should get Rs 100 more per tonne, January Rs 200, February Rs 300 and March Rs 400. He said this amount should be over and above the proposed Rs 4,000 first instalment.

Khaire said that if incentives are available from the start of the season, farmers will prefer to give their cane to the Someshwar factory. This would keep cane supply steady and allow better crushing planning, he said.

He said that although cane production is low this year, a fair rate, timely harvesting and transport planning will be needed to reach the crushing target of more than 13 to 14 lakh tonnes. He also appealed to the factory to plan to run for at least 150 days or longer.

A demand has also been made that information comparing the crushing figures, sugar recovery, debt burden and financial performance of the Malegaon, Chhatrapati and Someshwar factories be placed before members, and that a white paper be published for this purpose.

Khaire said that although all three factories are under the same leadership, each has a different financial position, so Someshwar's farmers should not suffer for the benefit of other factories. To stop Someshwar's cane from being diverted elsewhere, farmers should be assured of a fair rate, transparent weighing, timely cane payment and harvesting. Dilip Khaire has demanded that the board of directors put farmers' interests first and announce a Rs 4,000 first instalment and the additional incentive amount.