Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Suvarna Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, May 15: The Brahmavar Co-operative Sugar Factory is located on 110 acres of land and established in the year 1985 with the partnership of the government and farmers with a percentage capital of 51:49, respectively. Unfortunately, it stopped functioning in 2004 due to lack of supply and heavy losses. Since 11 years, revitalization of the factory remained just a promise by the state government. Now, the Congress government is putting renewed efforts to resurrect the factory.

The hopes of Udupi district farmers have been rekindled with the first phase of Varahi project which was inaugurated recently by chief minister Siddaramaiah. The foundation stone for Varahi project was laid when Gundurao was the chief minister of Karnataka. There is a close link between Varahi Irrigation Project and Brahmavar sugar factory. The project was supposed to provide water for 15,700 hectares of agricultural land. There have been plans to grow sugarcane on 7,800 hectares to supply Brahmavar sugar factory.

"In the year 2004, the factory was shut down with outstanding dues of Rs 12 crore. Of this, an amount of Rs 1.92 crore was owed as dues to 1,200 farmers who supplied sugarcane, Rs 5.50 crore owed as wages to sugar factory employees, and bank dues amounting to Rs 5 crore was the loan taken for its establishment. Siddaramaiah, soon after he became CM, sanctioned Rs 12 crore to clear the dues. Now, the factory needs Rs 150 crore for its renovation along with setting up new machines and technology," said Satya Narayana Udupa, deputy secretary, Bharatiya Kissan Sangh.

Recently, the Kisan Sangh members opined in a meeting that nearly 2,000 farmers are ready to grow sugarcane on 4,500 hectares of land. If the factory is revived, nearly 2,000 farmers will come forward to supply raw materials. According to agriculturists both irrigation department officials and farmers are ready to cooperate to continue the work. The question is who is supposed to decide the reopening of the factory - is it the management or the state government?

Reasonable grounds for reopening of Brahmavar Sugar Factory

The new unit would be able to crush 2.5 lac tonnes of sugarcane. The farmers can yield a minimum of 25 tonnes from one acre of land. So, it requires 10,000 acres of land to produce 2.5 lac tonnes of sugar. According to self-declaration forms collected by farmers’ organizations, more than 3,500 acres of land is available with farmers. About 1, 800 farmers of Udupi district have assured to grow sugarcane in a written statement, pledging that if there is proper payment, they will never stop growing.

This year, the Varahi project is partially completed and expected to irrigate 7,500 acres of land. The state government has promised to provide water to 14,000 acres of land next year. If farmers grow sugarcane on 6,500 acres, the requirement could be fulfilled.

Farmers say sugarcane is a very fruitful crop compared to other plants because if they plant once, they get crops for four to five years on an average with a little capital investment and minimum dependency.

The present market value is Rs 2,000 per tonne and that’s how a farmer could get Rs 20,000 profit by subtracting all expenses on one acre.

Satyanarayana Udupa says, "Farmers who belong to Barkur and Mandarthi area are using their crops to grow jaggery but it needs basic equipment. Now it is just 5 percent of farmers growing sugarcane. At present, it is the season, but what about the rest of the months? Transportation is a big challenge. But it is a worthy crop and the yield is not affected by wild animals."

Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes has also appealed to the CM to appoint a committee for a detailed report.

CM Siddaramaiah has said that he would study the feasibility of reopening the factory, along with collecting public opinion and only then would he take a decision on this.

Looking at these developments, the question arises as to whether the sugar factory would revive, especially during the term of Siddaramaiah. The government assured that within two years, the Varahi project will be completed, but what about the situation of farmers who depend on irrigation? In these 11 long years, no government has been able to restart the sugar factory; so can this government do it? Most importantly, do they have the will to do so?

At the same time, in the name of development, there is a also a possibility of demolishing the factory completely and establishing a new commercial complex or using the land for some income-generating activity. Now, the 110 acre of land is estimated at a market value of Rs 250 crore.

Finally, the government intervention is a must to clarify the unanswered puzzle. Nevertheless, the recent developments have given farmers hopes of seeing the Brahmavar sugar factory up and running again.