THE sugarcane crop is ready for harvesting this month but the Sindh government has not set the date for the commencement of cane-crushing or fixed the crop’s price so far.

But the Sindh Cane Commissioner is reported to have informed the provincial government about Punjab’s latest price of Rs180 per 40kg for sugarcane, up Rs10 from the 2013-14 season.

After consulting the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), the provincial government, it is speculated, is likely to fix the cane rate at around Rs182. Sindh’s price for cane remains a few rupees higher than that of Punjab in view of its better sucrose content recovery.

Farmers, however, expect an increase of Rs20-30 per 40kg, considering the rising cost of production, especially that of DAP fertiliser, which recently went up by Rs200 per bag.

The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) is asking for a price of Rs210 per 40kg, and the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) is demanding Rs220 on the ground that the cane price was not increased last year, while the government was also unable to control rising prices of farm inputs.

The sugarcane crop in Sindh was in robust health until two months back, but recent reports show that it was hit by a pest attack in some parts of the province

The sugarcane crop in Sindh was in robust health until two months back, but recent reports show that it was hit by a pest attack in some parts of the province. Agriculture Research Department Head Dr Atta Soomro also confirmed attacks of white fly, red rot and whip smut on mainly the 234 and 240 varieties.

These varieties are brought from Punjab, and lower Sindh’s climatic conditions do not suit them.

SAB President Abdul Majeed Nizamani and SCA General Secretary Nabi Bux Sathio said the productivity losses will be assessed only when the cane season comes to an end. “The disease attack is quite severe in the lower Sindh region, while upper parts of the province remain safe from it,” said Nizamani.

Sindh’s Matiari Sugar Mill is likely to start crushing from October 18. The mill’s management has asked area growers to supply cane to the factory at last year’s price, and the difference in payment would be paid to them when the official support price is announced.

Faran Sugar Mill would commence crushing this month, while most factories in the province would begin operations sometime in November.

During the current season, the cane sowing target was fixed at 300,000 hectares, but the crop was sown on around 310,000 hectares.

The increase in sugarcane area is being reported in upper Sindh, supported by a rise in the number of sugar factories. Cane is being grown even in non-commanded areas, which are fed by irrigation water supplies. The number of factories in the province has reached 37, from 35 in 2012-13.

A cane producer and SAB vice president Mahmood Nawaz Shah says it is not important that sugar factories in the province have increased in number.

“What is important is that no one is paying attention to rising per-acre cane productivity. These factories crush cane below their installed crushing capacity, which shows they don’t get the desired amount of cane from their area.

“The government functionaries are neither bothered by lower per-acre productivity, nor focus on maximising output from available water resources,” he said.

If the Sugar Factories Control Act 1950 is anything to go by, the cane-crushing season should begin from October 1, but it is yet to be officially notified. For the last few years, the official date for crushing was fixed by the provincial government in November instead of October.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, October 20th, 2014