The Sugar Cane Growers Fund is requesting all growers who have been served notices to finalize arrangements by end of August.

Executive Officer for the Fund, Raj Sharma says some of the farmers who have taken loans and despite a working farm have nonetheless felt no obligation to repay their loans.

Sharma says in some instances, notices to farmers have been ignored completely.

He says these growers have failed to realize that it is the trust fund that belongs to all the growers and they have to meet the commitments.

Sharma also clarifies that some of the growers, who have been granted loans for lease renewals, have either intentionally applied for lease renewals under their children’s name which is very unethical.

On the flip side, he says some of the growers have come forward and arranged to pay in installments with some agreeing to cultivate the farms and pay, both arrangements which have been accepted.

Sharma is pleading with defaulting growers that the SCGF is always there to assist the grower in good and bad times but at the end of the day they have to repay their loans.