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The Sugar plant located in the remote district of Sankili in Andhra Pradesh was inhabited by a few marginalised farmers when GMR Industries set up its sugar plant there. To address the issues of inadequate infrastructure facilities for irrigation, transportation, lack of awareness among farmers on the latest farm technology to name a few, the Group launched an intensive cane development programme that focused on the following areas:
- All inputs for sugarcane farming were provided to the farmers, including quality seed material.
- Farmers were educated on scientific methods of cane farming, including organised educational tours to other developed cane areas in the country on a regular basis.
- Irrigation infrastructure was developed utilising ground water potential as well as perennial rivers, canals, etc.
- Field roads were developed for easy transportation of cane from the fields to factory.
- Harvesting and transportation related help was provided to enable farmers in transporting cane to the factory at competent rates.
- Low cost transport bullock carts were provided at subsidised rates.
- Farmers were taught to adopt the latest technology in agriculture like Drip Irrigation and so on.
Through these measures, the Group increased cane yield from 70,000 MT to 600,000 MT within a span of seven years. Further, the cane yield per acre for the plant crop has increased from the initial 18 tonnes per acre to 30 tonnes per acre today.
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- Agricultural wastes like cane trash, jute stick, ground nut shell, paddy husk, etc are used as fuel in co-generation. This generates additional income for the farmers.
- The plant benefits more than 40,000 rural people directly or indirectly. It has also curbed the exodus of farmers to other places in search of livelihood during lean months by providing round-the-year employment to them.
- The plant has benefited the farmers immensely by providing an assured market and income for their produce
- Infrastructure like roads, medicare, irrigation facilities etc. has also improved substantially as a direct fall-out of the sugar plant.
- The Group has also started schools with good infrastructure, offering quality education in collaboration with reputed institutions, namely DAV and Bhavans. Farmers' children are given preference during admissions and are also given huge concessions in fee
- Initial agricultural input needed to start sugarcane farming are provided at very reasonable interest rates and recovered from cane proceeds. Hence, exploitation through middlemen is completely avoided.
- Health camps are organised regularly. Further, a mobile medical unit is sponsored through Help Age India to provide free treatment to the aged in the villages located around the sugar plant.
- Domestic dairy for the sugarcane farmers is encouraged by extending all necessary financial and technical support. This enables farmers to generate additional income and enhance their standard of living.
Drip Irrigation is encouraged in a big way with the help of Government sponsored schemes. This has substantially enhanced yield and reduced cost of production. 2000 acres of land has already been brought under drip irrigation.
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