Sugarcane production may see sharp decline

The recent prolonged flood has damaged sugarcane on 591 acres of land under the mill zone areas of Rangpur Sugar Mills that will adversely affect sugar production in the next crushing season 2019-20.

Moreover, cane on 3,792 acres of land has been affected partially due to longstanding waterlogging in the cane fields.

So, production may decline in the next harvesting period and the mill may not get adequate sugarcane to run its operation in full course, said Rezaul Karim, general manager (agriculture) of the mill in the district.

During the current cane farming season, total 5,521 acres of land have been brought under cane cultivation in the mill’s eight sub-zones and its commercial cane farm at Shahebganj, he said.

Out of total commanded areas, cane cultivated on 920 acres in Shahebganj cane farm, 1039 acres in mill gate –A sub-zone, 484 acres in sub-zone B, 114 acres in Mokamtola sub-zone, 476 acres in Gobindaganj sub-zone, 714 acres in Shahebganj sub-zone, 203 acres in Palashbari sub-zone, 926 acres in Pirganj sub-zone and 644 acres in Naldanga sub-zone.

Longstanding floodwater since July 15 damaged cane on 591.14 acres of land at sub-zone A, zone B, Shahebganj, Gobindaganj and Naldanga zones completely and on 3,792 acres partially.

The mill authorities said due to shortfall of cane in the next season, they may not achieve their cane crushing target of 72 thousand tonnes that may adversely affect sugar production. 

The general manager (GM) said partially affected cane fields could be regained, if the growers take initiative of proper nursing using adequate inputs that undoubtedly enhance cane production.

The cane growers should be careful on mazra insect that normally attacks cane after the recession of floodwater, he said.

The authorities deployed the mill’s employees to aware cane growers on different aspects of better yielding, said the GM.