More than a decade after farmers in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district abandoned growing sugarcane for want of an assured market and accountable processing, the prospect of two new sugar mills is forcing a relook at sugarcane.
With one mill cleared early last year but yet to take off, the government sanctioned a second mill in December. The cost analysis, as determined by experts, indicates that farmers can get returns of Rs 30,000-40,000 per acre; for hybrid varieties, this could go up to Rs 50,000/acre.
Both mills are looking at integrated projects, including production of ethanol, IMFL and bio-compost and, as such, could throw up plenty of job opportunities for locals.