Amidst declining sugarcane production in the State, the Goa government has decided to provide incentives to cane farmers if they increase production by 15 per cent in next two years.
The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, told the state Assembly today that the government is contemplating the possibility of giving more profits to sugarcane farmers.
“Ten years back, sugarcane cultivation was spread over 1,200 hectares of land which has now reduced to 850 hectare. The production has gone down from 68,000 tonnes to 46,000 tonnes during the last decade,” Mr Parrikar said.
The target for next two years is to achieve 75,000 tonnes, he said.
The State Cooperation Minister, Mr Dipak Dhavalikar, told the Assembly that the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, which runs in Dharbandora village, will have difficulty to procure sugarcane from neighbouring States this year because of the prevailing drought conditions.
He said Goan sugarcane farmers will be given an additional 15 per cent incentive, along with their cost of cultivation if the production of the crop increases.
Responding to a suggestion by the Leader of Opposition, Mr Pratapsinh Rane, to use the capacity of sugar factory to produce ethanol, the Minister said the government would study the proposal.