Barua for enough cane supply to sugar mills

Natore, — Industries minister Dilip Barua has said the government will not allow farmers to crush sugarcane with automatic machines to ensure sufficient supply to sugar mills and save the industry.

Use of automatic machines allow farmers to consume the major sugarcane production for their own usage which policymakers believe may not be possible if farmers are required to crush sugarcane manually.

"The sugar industry is under threat due to the lack of adequate supply of sugarcanes to the mills. This is unacceptable," he said at a regional seminar on sugarcane cultivation and the future of sugar industry on Saturday in Natore.

"Cultivators must supply their harvest to the mills situated in their respective areas, or they will be strictly dealt with."

He asked MPs, deputy commissioners and police superintendents present at the seminar to take steps to enforce the decision.

However, he said it take some more time to address problems in the industry and said, "The price of sugar will be fixed in time."

Abdur Razzak, a sugarcane farmer, voiced his disappointment at the seminar saying, "We buy taro leaves for Tk 8 and sell sugarcanes for Tk 2."

In addition to sugarcane farmers, chief of Bangladesh Food & Sugar Industries Corporation, Ranjit Kumar Biswas, and other officials were present at the seminar.

source: bdnews24