Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company supports sugarcane growers with loans

(Baonghean) - In Tan Ky this season, young sugarcane still grows quite well despite the drought. Last year, sugarcane prices increased, and the sugarcane investment policy for farmers was given attention, so people were excited.

Taking care of sugarcane in Giai Xuan commune (Tan Ky). Photo: Chau Lan

Always "together" with farmers, over the years, Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company has continuously cared for and invested in raw material areas to ensure factory capacity, ensure jobs for workers and increase farmers' income. Agricultural officers are close to the people, on duty 24/7 to mobilize and guide farmers to grow sugarcane with the right techniques, following the season, supporting farmers in difficult times, creating conditions for people to advance money... Therefore, from having only over 2,000 hectares of sugarcane initially, up to now, Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company has 7,000 hectares of sugarcane and is the sugar factory with the second largest raw material area in Nghe An, after Nghe An Sugar Factory.

The factory has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee to increase its capacity to 5,000 tons of sugarcane per day. In the 2016-2017 pressing season, thanks to the quick pressing and early rest 1 month in advance, the sugarcane has been able to grow green early, making it convenient for farmers to change their crop structure. Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong - agricultural officer of Song Con Sugar Factory said: We stick to the fields and the people, every day the agricultural officer and farmers check the sugarcane, repair and detect disease as soon as it appears to prevent it in time.

Currently, the factory has 3 model sugarcane fields applying intensive technology in the communes of Giai Xuan, Tan Xuan, and Nghia Dong. Identifying sugarcane as the main source of income, in some communes the sugarcane area reaches 80%, so people invest effort, money, and apply science and technology to take care of sugarcane to achieve high productivity. Sugarcane is replaced with new varieties such as Thai sugarcane and other disease-free sugarcane varieties, creating a large raw material area with 7,000 hectares of healthy sugarcane. The company's raw sugarcane area has been expanded to the districts of Anh Son, Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, and Huong Son (Ha Tinh).

This year, the minimum purchase price for raw sugarcane with a sugar content of 100 CCS or more (at the field) is VND860,000/ton, VND60,000/ton higher than in 2016. At the end of the 2016 crop, the Company purchased all sugarcane output from households that had signed contracts to consume agricultural products at the committed price.

On the other hand, the investment support policy for sugarcane growers is higher: 100% interest support for 24 months for sugarcane growing households that are eligible to borrow capital to buy land preparation and sugarcane planting machines. The maximum loan amount is 100,000,000 VND/household for households with sugarcane areas of over 5 hectares; 50,000,000 VND/household for households with sugarcane areas of over 3 hectares. Repayment period: Maximum 24 months from the date of money transfer. The factory also provides loans to buy care machines and pesticide sprayers. The maximum loan amount is 10,000,000 VND/household for households with sugarcane areas of over 3 hectares; 5,000,000 VND/household for households with sugarcane areas of over 1 hectare; 1,000,000 VND/household for households with sugarcane areas of over 2,500m2. Support for sugarcane planting on concentrated land areas, contiguous plots of 50 hectares or more, in addition to enjoying all the new planting mechanisms mentioned above, sugarcane planting households also receive a cash support of 4,000,000 VND/ha. Support of 6 tons of sugarcane sludge that has been treated and supplemented with microorganisms for each newly planted hectare...

Sugarcane quality control system at Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company. Photo: Chau Lan

To increase sugarcane productivity, the company has piloted the application of mechanization in the stages of planting, caring for and harvesting sugarcane to increase labor productivity, reduce labor, reduce production costs, and increase sugarcane productivity and quality. Investing in a drip irrigation model for sugarcane reached 40 hectares and continued to expand in the following years.

The company also built a sugarcane seed farm to propagate sugarcane to supply raw material areas. Currently, the seed farm is propagating 14 varieties and evaluating and selecting suitable varieties for replication in the area.

In addition to investing in equipment and expanding production, the Company increasingly pays due attention to the lives and spirits of its employees: Fully implementing commitments in labor contracts, average employee income is 64,627,660 VND/person/year.

The company allocates a portion of its profits to the Sugar Factory's employees, with an amount of VND 2,601,043,000, to train and support highly skilled workers, provide periodic health check-ups, reward technical innovations, and promote the labor emulation movement in the unit.

Pearl