Sharp fall in sugarcane production worries millers

Our Correspondent RANGPUR, Nov 22: Sugar millers in Rangpur have become apprehensive of huge losses this season on account of a drastic fall in sugarcane production. Official sources of Shyampur Sugar Mill said they might not get adequate amount of sugarcane this year as some local molasses makers are grabbing most of the canes. Locals alleged that there are some traders who have started producing over 750 tonnes of molasses a day using around 280 crushing machines. Mizanur Rahman, a sugarcane farmer at Talimganj under Mithapukur upazila, told The Financial Express he sells sugarcane at Tk 93.30 per maund to Shyampur Sugar Mill while he gets Tk 200-Tk 250 if the molasses makers buy his produce. Mizanur Rahman further said the molasses traders also pay them in advance to cultivate sugarcane for which the farmers show unwillingness to sell the raw material for sugar to the mill. For this reason local mill raised its cane purchasing rates to achieve sugar production target. The mill will begin crushing sugarcane on December 9, said Rafiqul Islam, managing director of Shyampur Sugar Mill. "We aim to crush around 50,000 tonnes of sugarcane this year to produce 3,988 tonnes of sugar. We fixed the rate of sugarcane at Tk 250 for per quintal and at Tk 93.30 for per maund, which was Tk 83.10 for per maund last season," Rafiqul Islam added. He also said they are providing seeds, fertiliser and technological support along with other incentives to the cane growers. "But we got poor response from the growers." Islam said the mill also counted huge losses in previous years. The official said sugar price should be revised immediately, as sugar is sold at Tk 58 per kg at the mill gate while a kg of molasses is sold nearly at Tk 75 in the market. Siddik Ali, acting general manager of the mill, said they may have to close the mill if the circumstances continue for long. Body recovered Police recovered a body of an unidentified woman, aged around 30 from a pond at Shajadpur village under Pirganj upazila in the district on Monday. According to sources, the local people found the body floating on a pond on Monday morning and informed the police. On information police rushed to the spot and recovered the body and sent it to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. All set to observe Victory Day Another report from BSS adds: The authorities concerned have taken necessary preparations to celebrate the Victory Day- 2011 in all the district and upazila headquarters of Rangpur division in a befitting manner on December 16. Elaborate programmes have been finalised in observance of the Day at separate meetings arranged by the district administrations and similar programmes will be arranged in the upazila headquarters. The valiant Freedom Fighters (FFs), professionals, government officials, educationists and representatives from different socio-cultural organisations, NGOs, women and voluntary organizations and law enforcing agencies took part in these meetings.