RAJSHAHI, Nov 18, 2017 (BSS)- Sugarcane crushing at Rajshahi Sugar Mills (RSM) began here Friday with a target of producing 7,250 tons of sugar by crushing 110,000 tons of sugarcane during the current 2017-18 season.
Local lawmaker Ayen Uddin addressed the inaugural session as the chief guest with RSM Managing Director Ashfaqur Rahman in the chair.
Paba Upazila Chairman Begum Khairunnessa and General Secretary of Farmers Welfare Association Mejbaul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
Ayen Uddin said the government has stepped up different efforts to make the sugar industry a profitable organization. He added that the government has also 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 the government would take all steps to sustain the sugar millS, the only heavy industry in the region.
Ayen Uddin said considering welfare of the farmers the government has raised the purchasing price of sugarcane to Taka 125 per mound to ensure its fair price at growers’ level and steps have already been taken to diversify the products.
He urged the farmers to supply sugarcane to the mills to fulfill the sugar production target. He also called upon sugarcane farmers not to sell sugarcane to the molasses (gur) traders.