Factories Directed to Finalize Agreements with Sugarcane Growers by October 10

### Quick Summary
– Teh sugarcane crushing season in Kalaburagi district will start on November 1, 2025.
– Deputy Commissioner B.Fouzia taranum has directed sugar factories to sign bilateral agreements with willing sugarcane growers by October 10, specifying price per tonne, transport costs, and payment terms.
– Payments for procured sugarcane must be made within 15 days; delays will result in a 15% interest penalty enforced strictly.
– sugar factories must adopt management software,use digital weighing machines at factory gates,and avoid malpractice or involvement of middlemen in weighing processes.
– Surprise checks will be conducted by officials to prevent weighing manipulation; Food Department will inspect recovery levels of the produce.
– GESCOM has been instructed to prevent crop damage due to power faults; Pollution control Board is tasked with ensuring no air, water, or noise pollution within a five-kilometre radius of factories.
– Factories are required to provide basic amenities (sheds, drinking water facilities, toilets) for farmers waiting overnight with their produce.
– Farmers have demanded additional ₹500 per tonne support from the State government above the Center’s Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), amendments for automatic interest on delayed payments credited directly into farmer accounts and SMS alerts regarding payments.
– FRP fixed ranges between ₹3,291 and ₹3,519 per tonne across different sugar factories including Ugar Sugar Works Ltd., Siddhasiri Souharda Cooperative Society Ltd., KPR Sugars Ltd., NSL Sugars Ltd., Shree renuka Sugars Ltd.

### Indian Opinion Analysis
The directives issued by Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum represent a clear effort toward improving openness and fairness in transactions between sugarcane growers and factories while ensuring operational efficiency during the upcoming crushing season in Kalaburagi district. By enforcing timely payment schedules with penalties for delays and mandating digital weighing machines to avoid malpractices at factory gates, farmers are better-protected against financial uncertainties often associated with agricultural procurement.The emphasis on bilateral agreements aligns interests between growers and processors but may pose logistical challenges given varying scales of farming operations in the district.Addressing demands like reviewing FRP pricing suggests broader concerns over its adequacy amid rising costs faced by farmers-a matter that holds importance beyond Kalaburagi as debates about farmer compensation continue across India.

Additionally, requiring amenities near factory premises highlights an approach sensitive to farmer welfare but also underscores systemic infrastructure gaps impacting agriculture supply chains that still need resolution at scale nationwide.

Given its proactive measures balancing regulatory oversight with operational improvements coupled alongside accountability systems impacting stakeholders groups policymakers interpretation evolve future sector framework side facilitates every procedural norm Factory District.
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