Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Brahmavar (MS)

Brahmavar, Feb 4: Aalemane has started working in Brahmavar cooperative sugar factory, which is said to be the biggest asset of farmers of undivided district of Dakshina Kannada. The new administrative committee has purchased the sugar cane from the farmers and is ready to sell the pure organic jaggery.

Aalemane, which is by the side of the national highway has got good response from the public. This jaggery is prepared without using any chemicals and is supplied directly to the consumers.

President and director of the administrative committee of Brahmavar Sugar factory took the decision of encouraging the sugarcane growers in the primary stage itself. They purchased the sugarcane for a good price and constructed the Aalemane on January 18.

The factory has the capacity to grind 15 tonnes of sugarcane per day. At present five tonnes of sugarcane is being ground, which produces 450 kg of jaggery. Consumers buy this organic jaggery directly from the factory. Baikady Suprasad Shetty says that the demand is increasing day by day.

Earlier high yield sugarcane seeds were brought from Mandya and distributed to local farmers in order to revive the sugar factory. The seeds were distributed in December 2018 and farmers planted the sugarcane. But the factory did not start. Farmers did not even come forward to sell the sugarcane that was produced. Then sugarcane grinding started in Shanadi and Hunsemakki. This gave the farmers relief to a certain extent. However, it was the dream of sugarcane growers that the work of encouraging them should happen under the control of sugar factory. That is why the new administrative committee initiated the process of encouraging the farmers who grow sugarcane by buying their produce. It started buying the sugarcane at a price of Rs 2,800 per tonne. This was lauded by the farmers also.

Good quality of jaggery without any adulteration and use of chemicals is available to consumers in this factory. This Aalemane is attracting tourists also as it is by the side of the highway. On the whole the initiative of the sugar factory is appreciated by the farming community.

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Suprasad Shetty, president of the administrative committee of Brahmavar sugar factory, says "Sugarcane is a high profit crop in the district of Udupi. As the Varahi irrigation project has started now, it is convenient for the farmers of Kundapur, Brahmavar and Byndoor taluks to grow sugarcane abundantly. If the farmers are willing it is not difficult for them to grow sugarcane on an area of seven to eight thousand acre of land. There are 54 primary cooperative associations with us. We also have the plan of educating the farmers about sugarcane crop.

"We have taken this decision not with the intention of making profit but to encourage the farmers who grow sugarcane. We have a plan of expanding the Aalemane on a large scale next year. We are committed to revive the Brahmavar sugar factory by aiming to grow as much sugarcane as required for the factory."