Talking to DT Next, he said “everything is ready for crushing to start next month and hence we are targeting total crushing of 2 lakh tones.”

While the government has already ordered diversion of cane from the cooperative sugar mills in both Ambur and Tirupattur another 40,000 tonnes was expected from the Kallakurichi Sugar Mill units 1 and 2. Also remaining (left over) cane from the Dharmapuri and Tiruthani Sugar Mills is also scheduled to reach the Vellore unit once crushing starts, officials informed.

“With registered cane area in Vellore district already crossing 1.20 lakh tones, we feel that we will easily reach the 2 lakh tones mark comfortably before crushing begins in December,” Anandan said.

Meanwhile, with the private sugar mill at Polur in Tiruvannamalai district closed, farmers have requested to allow them to ferry their cane to the Vellore unit.

Stating that there was nothing to prevent Polur farmers from bringing their stock to the Vellore unit, Anandan said, “they might be affected by the cost of transporting their produce to Vellore, but that is offset by the fact that they are assured of payment at the earliest.”

To ensure that the message of payment reaches farmers, officials plan to hold a meeting of cane farmers in a day or two on the mill premises in Ammundi.

“Because of the current payment situation, diversion for jaggery manufacturing will also be very limited,” Anandan added. Farmers usually divert even registered cane for jaggery manufacturing if it offers better prices than the mills.