ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: The government will encourage setting up of 2,000 to 2,500 tons capacity beet processing plants to produce sugar from sugarbeet.

A meeting, held under the chairmanship of adviser to the Chief Executive on Food, Agriculture and Livestock Shafi Niaz here on Monday, tried to determine the possibilities of growing sugarbeet in the country.

It also assessed various requirements and factors relating to the production and economics if sugarbeet production viz-a-viz competing crops was to be encouraged. A comprehensive paper prepared by the Experts Advisory Cell of the Ministry of Industries was discussed in detail.

The meeting, according to an official handout, then looked into the possibility whether it would be economical for the entrepreneurs to set up sugar manufacturing plant for sugarbeet either solely for sugarbeet or in contribution with sugar manufacturing from sugarcane.

The meeting also discussed the economics of producing sugar from sugarbeet and sugar. It re-informed its findings that sugarbeet cultivation was possibly both in Sindh and Punjab.

Therefore, it was agreed that the government will encourage the setting up of beet processing plants with a capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 tons.

Different estimates of cost of the plant, equipment needed, source of fuel and other relevant factors were discussed by the committee.

As different views were expressed by the participants, the meeting decided to set up a technical committee to sort out the various technical issues and come up with concrete proposals giving various options. The next meeting would be held within next fortnight.

The meeting was attended by Dr. A. Salam, chairman, Agricultural Price Commission; Zahid Aziz, chief, Experts Advisory Cell, Ministry of Industries; Abdul Hafiz Chaudhry, joint secretary, Ministry Industries; Muhammad Shahid, deputy secretary, Ministry of Industries; Salman Ali Shah; and Soomro Mohammad Ibrahim, director Industries, Sindh.