Sugarcane farmers to skip planting this season

According to official sources, earlier sugarcane used to be cultivated in at least 6.50 lakh acres across the Delta region. This shrunk to 4 lakh acres in 2012-13 and it was reduced to 3.27 lakh acre in 2013-14. 

This was further reduced to 2.63 lakh acre in 2014-15 and in 2015-16 it stands at just 2 lakh acre. “However, the farmers are sceptical to take up cultivation this year as water is essential during the initial stage of planting and during the last stage. Since there is no sign of rain this time, the sugarcane farmers are forced to sit with their fingers crossed,” said P Viswanathan, State president of Tank and River Ayacutdars Welfare Association. 

Meanwhile, edible sugarcane which used to be cultivated in over one lakh acres across the delta has been reduced to 25,000 acres. This year farmers are yet to begin planting this variety. “These sugarcane plants need 12 hours of uninterrupted power supply to water one acre of fields. But there is neither adequate water nor power and so involving in sugarcane planting would land us in trouble. So most of the farmers have decided to play it safe,” said Viswanathan. 

He said the edible sugarcane is cultivated across the delta especially, in Karur, Pudukkottai, Tiruchy (partly), Thanjavur and Ariylaur. “And so, there will be shortage of sugarcane during Pongal and prices of each piece would go up,” Viswanthan informed.

Meanwhile, N Veerasekaran, coordinator, South and North Ayyan Vaikkal Ayacutdars Association, said that a few private sugar mills encourage farmers to take up cane planting for crushing. “Usually 25,000 edible sugarcane used to be cultivated every year along with the Kollidam and the Cauvery river banks but this year less than 10000 acres have been planned. In Tiruchy, farmers have decided to take it up only in 100 acres,” said Veerasekaran.