PONDA: The Sugarcane Farmers Association affiliated with the Sanjivani Sugar Factory in Dharbandora is expressing frustration over the government’s delay in restarting the sugar factory. Sugarcane, a vital cash crop, has been the primary source of livelihood for farmers in the region for many decades. However, the closure of the sugar factory has severely impacted their livelihoods.
Farmers, anxious about their future in sugarcane farming, have issued a warning about staging a dharna (sit-in protest) at the entrance of the sugar factory gate starting from January 2, 2024. Their protest is directed at the government's failure to initiate the promised ethanol plant, despite several assurances, and they accuse the government of misleading them with unfulfilled promises.
Rajendra Desai, the president of the Farmers’ Association, expressed the disappointment of the farming community after a meeting within the factory premises. Desai urged the government to clarify its stance on the proposed ethanol plant, pointing out that farmers have been given false hope about its initiation at Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
Desai said that a contractor from Karnataka, with experience in ethanol production, has expressed interest in starting the ethanol project on the factory premises. However, the Goa government has not provided clarity or approval for restarting the sugar factory operations.
Farmers feel compelled to stage a protest to voice their various demands. Desai said that many farmers are dependent on sugarcane production for their survival and the livelihood of their families. The delay in restarting the factory, especially with the ethanol project promised four years ago, has left farmers struggling. Desai added that the closure of the factory four years ago occurred without consulting or taking the farmers into confidence, further deepening their grievances.