KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 14

Sugar industries in Nawalparasi West are facing a shortage of sugarcane, the primary raw material for their operations. Consequently, these industries have been unable to operate at full capacity.

Due to lower-than-expected sugarcane production in Nawalparasi West, sugar industries are compelled to procure sugarcane from neighboring districts. This has led to increased costs, according to industrialists.

The Sunwal-based Lumbini Sugar Industry, for instance, has resorted to purchasing sugarcane from Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi East. Kush Subedi, the Head of Administration at the Industry, highlighted the district's insufficient sugarcane production, necessitating the import of sugarcane from other areas. Subedi noted that the industry has procured 15,000 quintals of sugarcane from Kapilvastu alone this year.

The shortage of sugarcane has affected the operations of three major sugar industries in the district. Both the Bagmati Khadsari Sugar Industry in Susta and the Indira Sugar Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd. in Pratappur have reported their inability to function at full capacity due to the scarcity of sugarcane. Altogether, four sugar factories are operational in the district.

Meanwhile, farmers, facing prolonged delays in payment for their produce, are gradually shifting to alternative crops for cultivation.