PONDA

The Goa Sugarcane Farmers Association will take a call on whether to begin an agitation for their demands after the meeting of the State government-appointed facilitation committee on December 5.

Goa Sugarcane Farmers Association president Rajendra Desai said that the sugarcane producers from Sanjeevani Sugar Factory had given an ultimatum of 15 days to the government to spell out their approach on the proposed Ethanol project and had warned to initiate a strong agitation after holding a meeting soon after that.

However, the Sugarcane Farmers Facilitation Committee chairman Narendra Sawaikar has assured to hold a meeting on December 5, and hence the decision on the future course of action would be taken after the meeting, stated Desai.

"It is for the better future of the sugarcane producers to start the ethanol project, and the government should take quick decision to offer relief to the sugarcane producers who have been caught in a financial crisis after the Sanjeevani Sugar Factory was shut. The government has not yet issued any subsidy to the sugarcane producers, which has made their economic condition weak," Desai said.