Decrease in sugarcane price economy upsets farmers

By Our Correspondent

SARLAHI, Dec 23: The price of seeds, manure and labour may have increased, but Indushankar Sugar Mill has decreased the price of sugarcane this year, greatly upsetting the sugarcane farmers in this district.

The main buyer of sugarcane in the district has reduced the price of sugarcane from Rs. 140 a quintal to Rs. 120 this year. Besides, the industry has fixed the mill gate price of the raw material at Rs.130 per quintal.

Farmers have accused the industry of decreasing the price of sugarcane at a time when farmers are strongly demanding an increase.

"Owners of sugar factories have been encouraged to increase the price of surgarcane due to the appointment of businesspeople to the posts of ministers," said Pushkar Mahat, a sugarcane farmer. He also informed that they have formed a Mill Gate Farmers' Problem Resolution Committee (MGFPRC) to revolt against the price reduction.

According to another sugarcane farmer Chudamani Wagle, they have constituted a separate committee as the concerned authorities like the Sugarcane Producers' Federation and Sugarcane Producers' Association were unable to voice the problems faced by the farmers. We are demanding a price of Rs.168 a quintal, he said. He accused the sugar factory owners of exploiting the farmers by reducing the price of sugarcane at a time when the price of seeds, manure and pesticides are increasing.

There are several reasons why the price of sugarcane has gone down, says Krishnachandra Das, general manager of Indushankar Sugar Mill. "The price of sugarcane has gone down drastically in India this year, and so the probability of importing sugar at a cheaper price from India, taking advantage of the open border, has gone up, he said.

However, Mahalaxmi Sugar Industry of Rupandehi has fixed the price of a quintal of sugarcane at Rs. 143.

Peons running five minor custom offices

By Our Correspondent

NAWALPARASI, Dec. 23: The five minor custom points in Nawalparasi district bordering India in south west Nepal are run by peons in the absence of officials.

According to Shyam Shrestha, peon at the Tribeni customs, the junior officials pop in once in a while to mark their attendance and leave their work to the peons.The local people say that in the absence of the officials, smugglers are using the Tribeni and Maheshwor custom points to bring in goods as the Sunauli customs is strictly monitored. Moreover, the officials and the police are also working hand in glove with the smugglers, says Prem Bahadur Pokhrel.

Tribeni customs barely collects Rs. 5,000 in revenue a month. The officials issue bills only occasionally. "As these documents are kept locked in a cupboard, we don't know how much tax is collected in a month," said peon Shrestha. "The officials and police also support the smugglers…we are silent spectators to all that is going on here," he added.

The local people say that the office chief Ravi Ghimire and lower ranking official Prem Prasad Pokhrel have not been attending their duty since a long time.

Each of the minor customs in Nawalparasi is said to have the potential to collect taxes worth Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 400,000 every month.

Wai Wai premium launched

CHAUDHARY Group launched the Wai Wai Premium brand of instant noodles priced at Rs. 15. It weighs on at 100 grams nett-33% more than a regular pack of Wai Wai--and comes with dehydrated vegetables and wholesome egg-powder nutritionally equivalent to one full egg. With Premium you get impeccable quality, irresistible taste and the essential nutrition your body needs at any mealtime" stressed J.B. Tagore, the Brand Manager of Wai Wai at Chaudhary Group, according to a press release.

Complete adherence to strict ISO 9002 standards throughout the procurement, manufacturing and packaging processes at Nepal Thai Foods ensures that Wai Wai Premium is truly much more than just another brand of noodles.