Unabated use of sugarcane in power crushers within the mill zone has created the situation, according to official sources.

Sugar crushing in the mill started on Friday afternoon with a target for producing 16,875 tonnes of sugar by crushing 2.25 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.

Observing brisk business of molasses during the month of Ramadan, farmers started producing molasses in the mill zone much before the crushing season.

Cultivators are compelled to run their power crushers due to the mill's lengthy process in payment of their produce, besides sufferings and harassment.

'I am getting more profit by selling molasses instead of supplying sugarcane to the mill,' said Hafizur Rahman, a farmer at Halidagachhi village in Charghat upazila.

At present molasses is being sold at between Tk 30-35 per kilogram at local retail markets.

Around 1,500 power crushers are operating round the clock in the mill zone, according to unofficial sources.

Managing Director (MD) of the mill Mainul Hasan informed that they are doing their level best to attain the production target.

The mill opened 51 centres for purchasing sugarcane and all farmers were asked officially to supply their cash crop to the mill.

Besides filing of cases against some owners of power crushers, motivational meetings have been arranged to abstain farmers from crushing sugarcane by power crushers, he said.