No market link... No procurement

The New Indian Express, Jan 13, 2008

NABARANGPUR: Farmers of the district shifted from paddy crop to sugarcane farming in the hope of reaping more profit. But this year they have ended up losers due to lack of marketing linkage.

When the farmers in large numbers took to sugarcane farming, the district administration also extended a helping hand. The production of sugarcane increased from 116260 MT to 206088 MT, an increase of 43 percent during the past two years.

The area under sugarcane cultivation also went up from 3360 hectare in 2002-03 to around 5000 hectare last year.

Encouraged, the farmers grew more sugarcane this year. But all their hopes were shattered when no one came forward to buy their produce.

Since long the people of the district have been demanding setting up of a suagarcane factory at Nabarangpur so that they can market their produce easily.

But the Government has turned a deaf ear to the demand. More than a decade ago the State Government had acquired hundreds acres near Nabarangpur for setting up a sugar factory, but later the land was diverted to other purposes.

Some years back, the sugar cane growers were selling their produce to a sugar factory at Junagad in Kalahandi district. But it did not continue for long as the factory was closed some years back.

Last year, a cooperative sugar factory of Balangir district purchased the sugarcane of the district. It brought a sigh of relief for the locals who thought that their marketing problem was over. But this year no one is coming forward to purchase the sugarcane.