The recent announcement by the Bihar state government to reopen nine closed sugar mills has breathed new life into the hopes of sugarcane farmers across West Champaran and its neighboring districts. For agricultural communities, particularly in the Chanpatia area, this decision signals a potential end to a prolonged crisis that forced a drastic shift away from a once-thriving cash crop.
A Legacy of Decline and Lost Livelihoods
The Chanpatia sugar mill stands as a poignant symbol of this struggle. Established in 1932 during the British era, it was among the oldest such facilities in Bihar. However, its decline began in 1990, leading to a complete shutdown by 1994. A cooperative-led attempt at revival in 1998 failed due to poor coordination, sealing its fate.
This closure triggered a domino effect. "Sugarcane used to cover around 60–70% of the land in Chanpatia and nearby villages," recounted a farmer from Ghogha village. The mill provided a reliable, nearby market, but its absence forced farmers to travel long distances to operational mills in Bagaha, Lauriya, Ramnagar, Narkatiaganj, and Majhwalia. The high cost of transport and frequent delays in payments made cultivation financially unviable for many.
Farmers Voice Their Struggles and Hopes
The human and economic cost of the closures has been severe. "After the factory closed, we became unemployed. Many workers even died without livelihood. Farmers suffered the worst," shared a former sugar mill employee, noting the site has now turned to ruins.
Active farmers face relentless hurdles. "We have to send sugarcane to Narkatiaganj, Lauriya, and Ramnagar. Tractor rent and labour consume half our earnings," explained one grower. He added that late arrivals lead to weight deductions by mills, further eroding profits. This has caused a sharp decline in sugarcane acreage, with many switching to other crops.
The sentiment is echoed in other districts. Farmers in Bara Chakia in East Champaran, where the mill closed in 1994-95, and Sasamusa in Gopalganj, which shut down in 2021-22 after a tragic boiler explosion in 2017, share similar hardships.
Political Accusations and a Path to Revival
The move to revive the mills has also entered the political discourse. Former Chanpatia MLA and Union minister of state for coal and mining, Satish Chandra Dubey, alleged that several sugar mills in Bihar were deliberately closed during the Lalu-Rabri regime. He credited the current NDA government for taking concrete steps towards revival.
The state cabinet's announcement, which includes plans to establish 25 new sugar mills alongside reviving the nine closed units, has been met with widespread optimism. For farmers, local residents, and former workers, it represents a tangible chance for renewed livelihoods, stable incomes, and the restoration of a once-flourishing agricultural ecosystem in the region.
