Sugarcane turned bitter for thousands of farmers in North Andhra districts

Farmers are likely to stay away from sugarcane crops from next year, due to the closure of three sugar factories and another one on the verge of closure in North Andhra districts such as Vizianagaram, Parvatipuram and Srikakulam districts.

The farmers used to grow sugarcane in 35000 acres till about a few years ago in Vizianagaram district. Now, it has been reduced to 3500 acres. The crop area, which was around 50,000 acres in Srikakulam district got reduced to 5000 acres. The farmers are likely to shift to other crops from next Rabi season with the closure of operations in all four sugar factories.