BIJNOR: It's the season children of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh just dread even as their fathers look forward to it the whole year. With harvesting on for the sugarcane crop, thousands of jaggery-making units suddenly become operational in the region and for the labourintensive units children are often the best resources. As per official estimates, attendance of students this season has decreased by more than 20% and it may see a further dip as a large number of parents get their children to help in both the fields and jaggery units. There are close to 800 jaggery-making units in this region. A total of 2.10 lakh hectares is under sugarcane cultivation in the district and close to 70% of its population earns its living from agriculture. Villagers try to maximize their earnings during harvest season by employing labour "from home". According to officials of the education department, the average attendance of students in the primary and junior high schools is 65%, which plummets to 45% or less during harvest season, from November to April. Out of 2.32 lakh students only 1.23 lakh attend schools on a regular basis. District mid-day meal officer Rasu Kumar said, "We are trying our best to motivate parents to send children to school, though it is easier said than done." But farmers have their own justification for it. Rajender Singh of Mehmoodpur village said, "I am a poor labourer. I have to go to a nearby village where I get work removing the outer husk of sugarcane. Because we have to stay there for a considerable period of time, we move along with the families. So I cannot afford to send my children to school."