CANACONA
Amid uncertainty over the resumption of operations at the state's lone sugar factory in Dharbandora, the Cotigao sarpanch has promoted a novel initiative as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Swayampurna Goa mission.
He has set up a jaggery producing unit to help local sugarcane farmers to tide over the losses they have been incurring for their raw sugarcane.
Cotigao Sarpanch Daya (Umesh) Gaonkar has set up a cottage industry to produce local jaggery and has purchased the entire sugarcane yield cultivated in the village during the season at Rs 1,000 per quintal.
The sugarcane farmers have been up in arms against the Goa government for resumption of operations at the sugarcane factory, which has not been purchasing sugarcane cultivated by farmers in the State.
Moved by the plight of the sugarcane farmers in Cotigao, Gaonkar hit upon a novel idea to support them and generate some revenue.
“I invested in a juice extractor at Rs 3.25 lakh, bought five huge pans to boil the juice at an approximate cost of Rs 1 lakh per pan to set up this cottage industry, known as CotiAgro, at Yeda-Cotigao in January,” said Gaonkar.
“On any given day, the daily production of jaggery is 400 kg and if workers work during the night shift, an additional 200 kg of jaggery is produced, yielding a maximum daily production of 600 kg.”
Gaonkar has also been at work in his jaggery unit, which has employed many locals in the village.
“Since jaggery production began in January, over 25,000 kg of local jaggery has been produced and marketed.”
According to Gaonkar, 425 litres of sugarcane juice yields about 100 kgs of jaggery and the time taken to process the jaggery is about 4 hours. Besides, several litres of Kakum (liquid jaggery) can also be extracted.
Gaonkar said the unit provides direct employment to 25 persons.
“Besides, any farmer who wishes to use the equipment to produce jaggery and Kakum is also allowed at the unit with a nominal cost of Rs 500 to process 100 kgs of sugarcane,” said Gaonkar.
Gaonkar sells the locally produced jaggery at Rs 150 per kg and Kakum is sold at Rs 200 a litre.
Farmers in Cotigao are satisfied with Rs 1,000 per quintal they get for their yield of sugarcane from Gaonkar, even though they would earlier get Rs 850 per quintal and the government support price of Rs 650 per quintal at the sugar factory.
As a token of gratitude, Gaonkar gives the sugarcane waste free of cost to dairy farmers in the village.
“I have managed to employ 25 people directly in this business and we have also been able to sell jaggery in the ‘Cotigao Mahila Mart’ run by 25 Self Help Groups,” said Gaonkar.
The sarpanch's efforts have earned widespread appreciation.
“What an inspiration from the village sarpanch towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Our Cotigao sarpanch is the face of Swayampurna Goa,” acknowledged a local youth Devidas Gaonkar.
