The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Sugarcane farmers await payment

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Sugarcane farmers await payment

Staff Reporter

Farmers from Machavaram village complain that NDSL has failed to keep its promise to pay within a fortnight

Sangareddy: A large number of sugarcane farmers under the Nizam Deccan Sugars Limited (NDSL), who have supplied their cane for crushing, are disappointed over the delay in payment. The mill has agreed to crush 3.80 lakh tonnes of cane in three months.

The Mambojipalli unit located on the outskirts of Medak town, which began crushing in the month of November 2007, was supposed to finish at least 2,500 tonnes per day to meet the set target. The crushing process has been going on at a snail’s pace at 50 tonnes per day

The farmers from nearby Machavaram village, who have permits from the NDSL, have complain that the mill has failed to keep its promise to pay within a fortnight as per norms.

Price

While the mill is not sure about the final price of the cane to start disbursement, the farmers have prior obligations like marriages of their wards and other needs to be fulfilled.

Initially, the price per tonne was fixed at Rs. 890. Then in December, the price was increased to Rs. 1,050 after the State government announced bonus.

Now the final price stands at Rs. 1,100 after the talks with the Minister for Major Industries and Sugar J. Geetha Reddy with the managements of the mills.

Even though the farmers who received the payment by December 15 said that they were paid at the rate of Rs. 890, the balance has to be paid as per the announced price.

Ready to pay half

The representatives of the mill have announced a compromise formula that they will pay half of the amounts due so that the farmers can go ahead with the functions in the family.

The firm has confirmed that it has crushed 1.98 lakh tonnes so far and another 8,000 tonnes at their Nizamabad unit.

However, the NDSL points out that it has thus far received bills for 60,000 tonnes of cane from the farmers. It has urged the farmers to complete the formalities to receive the payment.

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