SARLAHI, April 11 -- Disgruntled sugarcane grower Rabindra Raya of Pipariya has been planning to switch to other crops in the next season after repeatedly facing hassles to get a form of advance payment, locally known as 'challan', which enables him to supply his crop to sugar mills.

This year, he has been eying bumper harvest due to favourable climate in winter.

Three years ago, Raya was elated when three sugar mills came into operation. He started expanding his sugarcane farm. But now, his sugarcane has been drying in his field.

Like Ray, many sugarcane farmers in the area are on the brink of incurring heavy losses as sugar mills have not issued them the forms, despite making rounds at the mills.

Farmers are not allowed to supply th...