RAJSHAHI, Nov 23, 2019 (BSS) – Rajshahi Sugar Mills (RSM) has set a target
of manufacturing 11,880 tonnes of sugar through crushing 1.44 lakh tonnes of
sugarcane during the current 2019-20 season.
The RSM authority has set the target of sugar harvesting rate at 8 percent
this year against last year’s achievement of 6.6 percent. It is also
purchasing sugarcane at Taka 145 per mound at its mill gate from the farmers
at present.
In the last 2018-19 season, the mill had manufactured 6,212 tonnes of
sugar through crushing 1,02,525 tonnes of sugarcane in 78 days.
This was revealed in the opening ceremony of the current season’s mill
crushing programme here yesterday afternoon.
Ayen Uddin, MP, addressed the opening ceremony as chief guest with RSM
Managing Director ASM Mukituallah in the chair.
Chairman of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) Azit
Kumar Paul, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Sultan Mahmud,
BSFIC Secretary Mijanur Rahman and Director General of Bangladesh Sugar Crop
Research Institute Dr Amzad Hossain addressed the ceremony as special guests.
Lawmaker Ayen Uddin said the government has stepped up different efforts
to make the sugar industry a profitable organization. He added that the
government also has a plan of refining raw sugar during the off season.
He urged the farmers to grow more sugarcane and factory workers to help
run their units properly. He also said that the government would take all
steps to support the sugar mills, the only heavy industry in the region.
He also said the government has raised the purchasing price of sugarcane,
to ensure its fair price at growers’ level, for the welfare of farmers.
Besides, steps have already been taken to diversify the products.
Ayen Uddin urged the farmers to supply sugarcane to the mills to fulfill
the sugar production target. He also called upon the sugarcane farmers not to
sell sugarcane to the molasses (gur) traders.