GOVERNANCE OF FARMERS- IS IT FOR THEIR WELFARE OR ILLFARE ?
GOVERNANCE OF FARMERS- IS IT FOR THEIR WELFARE OR ILLFARE ?
Sugarcane cultivation is under control of Govt with zonal system, where in each sugar factory is defined as zone and cane cultivation in that zone is monitored by cane director/commissioner. Factories enter into purchase agreements, arrange for soft loans, provide extension services which include bio fertilisers, seed varieties, cash subsidies etc.
The cane commissioner role is to ensure cane development, improved productivity , farmers welfare and also cane regulation in order of priority. But in reality 90% of their effort and interest is in cane regulation, not in farmers welfare, for the reasons best known to them.
Though the sugarcane act talk about zonal regulation, farmer is always at liberty to not enter into cane agreement with local factory and at his free will he can grow sugarcane and market it as he likes. The opportunities include supply to fresh juice venders, jaggery making, supply to factories in other zones where farmers get better price, priority in cutting orders, free or subsidised harvesting and transport facilities.
In reality the field staff of cane commissioner walk into the shoes of police and harass farmers, stop their cane movement etc by playing into the hands of vested interest groups.
In fact their role is to see that proper permissions are given to non agreement cane, so that the juice vendors, jaggery industry survive with healthy competition, at the same time the enterprising farmers too get extra income, as the juice vendors pay over 30% extra than sugar units.
The other issue is with sick units or units with weak balance sheets. They draw cane using the zonal system from farmers and often make delayed payments or create bad debts. The regulatory authority I.e., cane commissioner role is vital to address these issues, seldom they act in time to save farmers from the clutches of vested interest groups.
Though Rangarajan commission appointed by UPA 2, clearly gave report to get away with zonal system and give free will to farmer to decide on his choice of mill to supply cane, whether to take subsidies or not, whether to enter into agreement or not etc, the report has not come into implementation.
One can understand how the lobbies work against the interest of farmers.
UNLESS UNTIL WE ADDRESS THESE BURNING ISSUES, THE GOAL OF DOUBLING FARMERS INCOMES WILL REMAIN AS DREAM ONLY.
BGR
Sugarcane cultivation is under control of Govt with zonal system, where in each sugar factory is defined as zone and cane cultivation in that zone is monitored by cane director/commissioner. Factories enter into purchase agreements, arrange for soft loans, provide extension services which include bio fertilisers, seed varieties, cash subsidies etc.
The cane commissioner role is to ensure cane development, improved productivity , farmers welfare and also cane regulation in order of priority. But in reality 90% of their effort and interest is in cane regulation, not in farmers welfare, for the reasons best known to them.
Though the sugarcane act talk about zonal regulation, farmer is always at liberty to not enter into cane agreement with local factory and at his free will he can grow sugarcane and market it as he likes. The opportunities include supply to fresh juice venders, jaggery making, supply to factories in other zones where farmers get better price, priority in cutting orders, free or subsidised harvesting and transport facilities.
In reality the field staff of cane commissioner walk into the shoes of police and harass farmers, stop their cane movement etc by playing into the hands of vested interest groups.
In fact their role is to see that proper permissions are given to non agreement cane, so that the juice vendors, jaggery industry survive with healthy competition, at the same time the enterprising farmers too get extra income, as the juice vendors pay over 30% extra than sugar units.
The other issue is with sick units or units with weak balance sheets. They draw cane using the zonal system from farmers and often make delayed payments or create bad debts. The regulatory authority I.e., cane commissioner role is vital to address these issues, seldom they act in time to save farmers from the clutches of vested interest groups.
Though Rangarajan commission appointed by UPA 2, clearly gave report to get away with zonal system and give free will to farmer to decide on his choice of mill to supply cane, whether to take subsidies or not, whether to enter into agreement or not etc, the report has not come into implementation.
One can understand how the lobbies work against the interest of farmers.
UNLESS UNTIL WE ADDRESS THESE BURNING ISSUES, THE GOAL OF DOUBLING FARMERS INCOMES WILL REMAIN AS DREAM ONLY.
BGR
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