Discontentment is brewing among sugarcane growers in the country as they are yet to get their dues after two months of selling the crops.
Sugarcane grower Farid Hossain of Shingra upazila in Natore district said: “We sold seven consignments (locally called receipts) at Tk2,949 which is less than the fair price. I need money to pay workers’ wages and to repay loans.”
Likewise, many farmers had sold receipts at a lower price to the middlemen in order to manage money to reduce financial crisis, but they did not get any payments against the receipts.
“What is our profit if we fail to get our fair price after producing sugarcane, which had cost us a huge sum of money?” asked farmer Farid, adding that the authorities did not say anything about their money.
The growers who took loans and cultivated the crop on leased land did not find ways to mitigate their sufferings.
Farmer Belal Hossain said: “I am facing problems in cultivating Boro and maize crops as I did not get money after two months.”
He sold his produce to Shyampur Sugar Mill of Rangpur district.
“If the farmers ask the authorities concerned to pay the dues, they reply how they can pay it if the sugars are not sold,” Belal said.
The growers alleged that they had to face harassment and also had to pay bribes while supplying sugarcanes to the mills.
Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation sources said authorities of 15 sugar mills had failed to pay due of a total Tk185,98,21,000 to the farmers, after two months of taking the produce from them.
According to BSFIC sources, government set a target of 1,38,350 tonnes of sugarcanes against 18,60,000 tonnes in current financial year. But, 1,20,088 tonnes were produced against 17,01,427 tonnes till March 24. Threshing was completed in nine mills while threshing at another six mills will be completed next month.
Assistant Sales Manager of BSFIC Abdar Hossain said: “The problem is acute as the sugar remains unsold.”
“We are trying to pay the dues of the farmers soon,” he said.