THE cane commissioner has claimed that the sucrose content in the local sugar cane has gone down to 10pc from 12pc. This is strange because in the world the average sucrose content is 14pc to 24p and the government has been investing heavily to get higher sucrose content sugar cane for local farmers.
With lower sucrose content, the sugar manufacturers will claim lower production, and they will request a lower sugar cane price. This way they will cheat the poor farmers from their hard-earned income.
Similarly, by declaring lower sugar production, the companies will also pay lower taxes. Since the majority of sugar mills are owned by prominent politicians, there is a high chance the cane commissioner has made a miscalculation.
TV channels, universities, laboratories and research organisations should independently check the sucrose content in the sugar cane of their areas and report it in the media. Nowadays digital refractrometers are available and various laboratories can also check the Brix percentage in sugar.
If it is lower than 15pc, then the sugar cane of Pakistan is of the lowest quality and their harvest should be stopped in future.
Name withheld on request
Peshawar
Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2017
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