NAUNDERO: Sugarcane growers have threatened to stop supplying sugarcane on agreed rates of Rs 182 per 40 kilograms if the Naundero Sugar Mill (NSM) fails to lift their produce from November 15, 2016. Larkana Chamber of Agriculture president Siraj-ul-Oliya Rashdi told newsmen that it was mutually and unanimously agreed in a recent meeting between the Sindh government authorities, sugar mill owners and the representatives of the growers that all sugar mills would start crushing season on November 15 and the sugarcane would be supplied at the rate of Rs 182 per 40 kilograms. But, the Naundero Sugar Mill authorities have shut down their chimney after lighting it up for over 12 hours, which means they are not honouring the commitment made to the growers, Rashidi said. “If they are not willing to lift sugarcane by the given deadline, then we will also not abide by the agreed rates,” he warned, adding that new rate would be Rs 250 per 40 kilograms. He said that the growers have to prepare their lands for the next crop after harvesting sugarcane, which should also be on time, otherwise their fertile agricultural land will be rendered useless. He also said that the mill owners too do not pay small growers timely and they have to run from pillar to post for the recovery. When contacted, NSM’s Finance Manager Hamz Ali Chakrani said that they would start crushing season from November 12. He said that the concerns of the growers were unfounded. He said that they lit the chimney on trial basis, which will be started again. He assured that the sugarcane price will be the same as declared by the government.
