November 08, 2006	Wednesday	Shawwal 15, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: A crisis situation is looming large in the country as the government apparently failed to ensure timely sugarcane crushing as a result of which wheat sowing is likely to be delayed causing pressure on the national economy.

Market analysts said the situation was creating two-pronged problems-- delay in crushing would further shoot up the sweetener prices besides, it would also result in dropping the new wheat crop yield between 600,000 tons to 100,000 tons.

Under an agreement with the government recently the sugar millers had agreed to start crushing in Sindh from the first week and in Punjab and the NWFP from the middle of November, which now seemed to be further delayed on one or the other pretext.

When contacted President Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Sindh chapter, Abdul Wajid confirmed to Dawn on telephone that only five out of 28 sugar mills in the province has started crushing within the scheduled time.

He said that limited supply of cane by growers had discouraged millers to start full-fledge operation. Only seven trolleys of cane reached these mills since the start of operation, he added. “In such a limited supply how could you expect all mills to start crushing,” he questioned.

Mr Wajid linked the full-fledge crushing by all sugar mills with the availability of sufficient cane by Friday next. However, he said that in case the supply position had not improved, it was expected that crushing by the other mills might be delayed.

He said the government would have to ensure constant and uninterrupted supply of sugarcane to mills. It will be relevant to point out here that it is necessary to light up the boilers at least eight days before a mill starts crushing.

When contacted Secretary Food and Agriculture M Ismail Qureshi told Dawn that his ministry would review the situation with the provincial government to identify the reasons for delay in cane supply by the growers.

"We would review the position and to work out a strategy to encourage the growers to ensure constant supply of cane, particularly in the Sindh province," he added.

Mr Qureshi said that the crushing would start within the agreed time period. However, he said that in the Punjab one sugar mill had started crushing even ahead of the scheduled time.

A leading grower requesting anonymity said that the shortage of labour and transport caused delay in the harvesting of sugarcane.