The sugarcane farmers of Puthia subzone are living a miserable life without getting the money owed to them by supplying sugarcane to the Rajshahi sugar mill. In this subzone, more than three hundred farmers owe 85 lakh taka.
According to sugar mill sources, farmers in total 9 subzones including Puthia subzone owe Tk 5 crore 65 lakh. Farmers are losing interest in sugarcane cultivation due to lack of payment.
Meanwhile, sugarcane crushing started at Rajshahi sugar mill on December 1. The next day (December 22) the sugar mill was closed due to lack of sugarcane.
On the other hand, the authorities paid the price of sugarcane from December 11 to 22. During this period the mill deducts 80 percent of the loan amount owed to the farmer from each bill. As a result, the farmer has to pay cash out of pocket to meet labor and transportation costs. At present the sugarcane farmers are living an inhumane life without getting their dues. Many have broken sugarcane and planted wheat and maize in the land because of the delay in getting the money.
Sajedur Rahman, President of Puthia Subzone Sugarcane Cultivators Association and Advisor of Sugarcane Central Committee, said that there is no alternative to sugarcane cultivation to sustain Rajshahi Sugar Mill, the only heavy industry in Rajshahi. The price of sugarcane is fixed at Tk 250 per maund and if the money is received on time the farmer will return to sugarcane cultivation.
Deputy Manager of Puthia Subzone Shaheen Ahmed said that more than three hundred farmers in Puthia Subzone owe Tk 85 lakh. Farmers are losing interest in new sugarcane cultivation without getting the due money at the right time.
In this regard, Rajshahi Sugar Mills Managing Director Abul Bashar said, I have heard that some farmers broke the sugar cane (roots of the sugarcane underground after harvesting the sugarcane) without getting the due money. Sugarcane farmers in 9 subzones under sugar mills owe Tk 5 crore 65 lakh. Government efforts are on to speed up payment of the dues. Sugarcane farmers will get their due soon.
Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industry Corporation President Arifur Rahman Apur tried to contact him to find out about this, but he was not able to get a phone call.
For four years, the farmers are being harassed to get the sugarcane dues. In the threshing season of 2022, the concerned officials have failed to pay the money on time.
