Paddy farmers switching over to sugarcane cultivation

Paddy growing farmers in Bhandara are passing through a crucial phase. But there is a ray of hope in the form of Vainganga sugar factory. Instead of traditional paddy farming, the farmers are switching over to sugar cane cultivation. Paddy cultivators in Asagaon and Lakhandur have sown sugarcane in 400 hectares of land and till February next year, 1,000/1,200 hectares of land is likely to come under sugarcane cultivation. In both the districts, 4,000 hectares of land will have sugarcane as the principal crop. Vainganga sugar factory has shown a path of affluence to paddy farmers in the form of sugarcane cultivation at a very crucial phase when there is a bumper crop of paddy and there is no one to purchase it too.

Asagaon and Lakhandur areas of the district are having the most fertile land and farmers of these areas are also affluent. In this season, there is a bumper crop of high grade paddy, but rates have gone down to such a low level that farmers are reluctant to sale it in the market. Despite suffering a heavy loss, they have not lost hope and that was kindled by Vainganga sugar and power company of Devada.

Dudharam Funde of village Ranala is in rejoicing mood after he earned Rs 1.5 lakh from sugarcane crop. He had sown high-yielding 265 grade sugarcane seed with investment of Rs 30,000 on one acre land.

Rajesh Bhendarkar of Asagaon has completely switched over to sugarcane cultivation. He says that sugarcane cultivation gives lakhs of rupees. It’s an old experience and the sugar factory in the district will certainly revive golden days of the past. "So it is better to purchase rice for home consumption than to cultivate it, so we have opted for sugar cane cultivation," said Bhendarkar.

Vasant Bangadkar and Rajendra Fulbandhe, young farmers of village Bhendala are enthusiastic about the new change taking place in their area. They say that it’s a beginning of a revolution. "From 1989 to 1993, these four years were golden years for farmers as sugar cultivation was in the peak. The erstwhile Vainganga cooperative sugar factory was also running in full swing. Sugarcane farmers were getting huge amount for their produce. In these four years, farmers earned lakhs of rupees. They spent thousands in marriage celebrations, education of their wards, purchased four-wheelers. Now similar days of affluence will come," said a farmer. While each acre of land brings monetary earning of Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh, the high-grade seed of 265 will open a new chapter of economic revolution, feel farmers.

Farmers feel that adding to their boon will be the Gosikhurd irrigation project. The water level will reach up to 244 metres which will irrigate land in the remotest areas, say farmers.