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More Varahi water raises hopes of sugar factory’s revival

Published On : 12 Jun 2016   |  Reported By : Courtesy: The Hindu   |  Pic On: photo credit: The Hindu


Udupi (The Hindu): With water from the Varahi Irrigation Project expected to cover a wider area, the management of the Brahmavar Cooperative Sugar Factory nurtures hopes of rejuvenating the factory next year.

The factory, set up in 1985, on 110 acres of land near Brahmavar, closed down in 2004 amidst mounting losses.

It was started on the premise that the Varahi Irrigation Project, for which the foundation stone (along with that of the factory) was laid in 1980, would provide water for irrigation, which in turn would help in sugarcane cultivation.

However, the completion of the first phase work of the irrigation project took 35 years and was inaugurated only in May 2015 providing water to about 7,400 acres.

When fully completed, the project is expected to provide irrigation to 38,800 acres.

According to the information provided by the factory, of the 38,800 acres, 19,000 acres are meant for sugarcane cultivation, while the remaining 19,800 acres will be for paddy.

“By April, 2017, we expect at least 14,825 acres to get water from the project. This will give necessary confidence to the farmers in the district to cultivate sugarcane,” said M. Jayasheela Shetty, factory chairman.

The factory has already submitted two plans for its rejuvenation to the State government. The first plan focuses on replacing some of the old machinery which is estimated to cost Rs. 25 crore. The second plan, estimated at Rs. 40 crore, aims to completely replace all the old machinery.

“We are expecting a response from the authorities for our plans. We are committed to reviving the factory,” Mr. Shetty said.

Though paddy is the chief crop of the district, it is labour intensive. According to Ramakrishna Sharma, president of Zilla Krishik Sangha, sugarcane cultivation was most suited to the district as it was not labour intensive and required lesser investment.

“We are all eager to cultivate sugarcane. Sugarcane is 10 times better than paddy. We are waiting for the revival of the factory,” he said.

Satyanarayana Udupa, general secretary of the district unit of Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, said that a farmer could easily make a clean profit of Rs. 30,000 per acre with one crop of sugarcane.

“In contrast if he grows three crops, he might be able to make about Rs. 25,000 per acre. But there should be prompt payment for the sugarcane supplied by the factory management,” he said.







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