Karwar: In accordance with government directives, the 2024-25 sugarcane crushing season is set to begin on November 15. To ensure that local sugarcane farmers face no inconvenience, Deputy Commissioner (DC) K. Lakshmi Priya has directed officials from Haliyal-based EID Parry company to conduct the procurement process with complete transparency across Uttara Kannada district.

Chairing a meeting with district sugar mill representatives and sugarcane farmers on Wednesday at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, she highlighted that a total of 13,559.50 hectares of land are currently dedicated to sugarcane cultivation in the district. She instructed sugar mill representatives to offer the maximum price per metric ton to farmers and ensure fair practices in harvesting, transportation, procurement, and weighing so that farmers are not exploited.

The DC also stressed that profits from by-products of sugarcane should be shared with farmers. She called for a review of designated harvesting areas to facilitate more convenient access for farmers, with any necessary adjustments made accordingly. Harvesting and transportation costs, she noted, should be collected as per government guidelines.

To prevent delays and prioritize fair treatment, she instructed officials to prepare a priority list for harvesting and to distribute it to farmers in all villages, ensuring that harvesting takes place according to this established schedule. She cautioned that any violations would lead to police action. Additionally, she ordered that weighing machines be installed in front of factories and that the weight details be clearly visible to farmers, with instructions to avoid unnecessary delays that could lead to a reduction in yields from dried cane.

DC Lakshmi Priya also emphasized that farmers should immediately receive an SMS confirmation of the weight upon delivery, along with the purchase bill. She asked the factory representatives to notify the district administration and farmers prior to commencing operations. Further, she instructed that sugarcane harvesting crews should not charge any additional fees to farmers.

To facilitate ongoing discussion of farmer concerns and find solutions as needed, a committee comprising farmers, officials, and sugar mill representatives will be formed, she announced.

SP Narayan stressed the importance of harmonious cooperation between sugar mills and farmers during the crushing season, underscoring the administration’s commitment to addressing farmers’ reasonable demands. He also urged the sugar mills to respond appropriately to farmer needs.

Farmers requested additional payment of ₹120 for last year’s increased transportation costs, and they noted that profits from by-products since 2017-18 had not been shared. They called for an audit of these profits and legal distribution to farmers, as well as the disbursement of the government-mandated additional rate for 2022-23. They also urged the immediate implementation of the government-issued bipartite agreement by EID Parry sugar factory.

In response, DC Lakshmi Priya assured the farmers that all their concerns would be communicated to the State Sugar Commissioner for necessary action.

Present at the meeting were District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Ishwar Kumar Kandoo, Sub-Divisional Officer Kanishk, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sajid Ahmad Mulla, Deputy Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department Manjunath Revankar, various department officials, and representatives of the farmers' association and EID Parry company.