Joypurhat Sugar Mill started the 62nd sugarcane crushing season today by crushing 810 tonnes of sugarcane on the first day. 

This time the mill will be operated for 34 days, Md Akhlasur Rahman, managing director of the mill, said at an event to mark the beginning of the crushing season on December 20.

He also urged the local farmers to allocate portions of their land for sugarcane cultivation.

At the inauguration ceremony, Md Anowar Kabir, secretary of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, said the government has granted a Tk 220 crore loan for Joypurhat Sugar Mill to ensure hassle-free payment of sugarcane growers.

Every sugarcane farmer will get payment regularly during the mill's operational period, he said, adding that no complaint regarding payments would be tolerated this season.

Kabir also announced an increase in sugarcane prices and urged farmers to expand sugarcane cultivation for the mill's sustainability.

The government grant will play a vital role this season, as the six-decade-old mill's cumulative loss currently stands at Tk 793 crore, according to the mill authorities.

In the 60th crushing season, Joypurhat Sugar Mill incurred a loss of Tk 69 crore and the next season Tk 53 crore.

Efforts are underway to revive the mill's operations, with a focus on boosting sugarcane production and ensuring its financial sustainability, the mill's officials said.