The Garuda-based factory had started operation from December last year with the target of crushing 2.2 million tons of sugarcane. It, however, could crush only 2.04 million tons of sugarcane by Friday night.[break]
Keshar Raj Lamichhane, manager of the factory, said shortage of sugarcane in the district forced them to shut down operation.
The factory crushed sugarcanes only for a few hours a day for the past few weeks due to sugarcane shortage.
“Farmers have already sold us whatever they have grown,” Lamichhane said, “They now have only a few amount of sugarcane which they will transplant in the upcoming farming season.”
Farmers, who brought tractor-loads of sugarcane to the factory on Friday, had to return after they noticed that the factory has already closed for the season. “Most of the farmers have already returned. Some are in negotiations other sugar mills,” Sanjaya Kumar Yadav, a farmer from Mahinathpur of Rautahat, told Republica.
The abrupt decision to shut factory operations has shocked many farmers in Sarlahi and other surrounding districts. Though farmers of Rautahat are the key suppliers of Shree Ram Sugar Mills, the factory used to buy sugarcane from farmers in other neighboring districts.
“We bought sugarcane from farmers who were returning from Rautahat keeping in view their problems,” Ajaya Yadav, proprietor of a local Gadhimai Mill, said.
However, some sugar mills in Sarlahi have been urging the farmers to supply sugarcane that they have pledged to the mills.
Sugar mills operating in pocket areas have already made commitment to procure sugarcane from local farmers. But farmers have delayed supplies demanding better price for their produce.
Farmers are demanding Rs 480 per quintal of sugarcane.
Local sugar mills are crushing some 25,000 quintals a day, lower than their installed capacity of 28,000 quintals, due to shortage of sugarcane.
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