March, 14 2005	Monday	03 Safar 1426

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TOBA TEK SINGH, March 13: High prices of Gur and Shakkar and millers’ attitude are keeping many of growers away from selling their sugarcane crop to mills.

During the last decade, growers had almost abandoned production of Gur and Shakkar and they were supplying cane to mills. In the last three years, the growers were exploited by sugar mills. Millers mostly paid them rates of their choice and delayed payment of their dues for long. Some of growers lamented that their dues were delayed till the next crop or even beyond that.

Circumstances have forced growers to refuse sale of cane to mills on more than double the official price. They have instead started making Gur and Shakkar being sold at Rs26 and Rs30 per kilogramme, respectively.

Some traders say major factor behind the increased production and sale of Gur and Shakkar is that buyers from Afghanistan and Central Asia have started purchasing the items from Pakistan. They say that as Gur is used in alcohol and is in great demand abroad.