Sugarcane farmers in the region are worried about the significant increase in labor costs, stating that it is making cultivation economically unfeasible. At a recent meeting addressing farmers’ grievances, cultivators called for intervention from sugar mills and the district administration to regulate labor charges or provide targeted subsidies to help manage escalating expenses.
Karuppannan, a farmer, highlighted the financial strain faced by sugarcane growers, noting that the initial heavy borrowing for crop-related expenses becomes burdensome during harvest. He mentioned that farmers are currently spending close to Rs 1,200 per laborer per tonne of sugarcane during harvesting, resulting in high costs of nearly Rs 1 lakh per acre due to the average yield.
According to Karuppannan, despite the State Advised Price offering around Rs 3,612 per tonne at a recovery rate of 10.43%, a significant portion of the income is being consumed by labor costs. S.A. Chinnasamy, the State president of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the sharp rise in labor charges as the crushing season progresses towards its conclusion.
Chinnasamy expressed worries based on his own field experiences, where he observed labor costs reaching about Rs 1,400 per tonne this season, with a potential increase to Rs 2,000 per tonne as the grinding season slows down. He highlighted that escalating labor charges towards the end of the season in the previous year had made cultivation highly unfavorable for farmers.
Responding to the farmers’ complaints, R. Priya, the Managing Director of Subaramaniya Siva Cooperative Sugar Mill, mentioned the mill’s efforts to organize a common labor force to help control costs. However, she explained that most farmers prefer to hire laborers independently, limiting the mill’s ability to intervene effectively. With labor expenses on the rise, farmers fear that without collaborative action from mills and the government, sugarcane cultivation may become unsustainable for small and marginal growers.
