HYDERABAD: Sindh Abadgar Itte­had (SAI) has urged the Sindh government to fix the sugar cane crop’s rate at Rs250 per 40kg for 2019-20 crushing season pointing out that no upward revision had been done in the official rate of Rs182/40kg for several years.

Speaking at a press conference at the local press club here on Monday, SAI president Nawab Zubair Talpur said that the agriculture department had not taken practical steps for commencement of crushing, which was supposed to start on Oct 1. He noted with concern that neither a date for the start of the crushing season had been notified nor sugar cane crop’s rate was fixed as yet.

He said that Sindh government had set a wrong precedent of notifying sugar cane rate after start of cane crushing. This had put farmers in great trouble as far as payment of the notified rate was concerned, he added, and urged the government to fix and notify the rate ahead of the crushing process. “Even last year’s dues have not been paid to growers by sugar mills,” he said.

Mr Talpur said that last year, sugar was selling at Rs48 per kg in the retail market and current rate was Rs75 per kg but millers were not ready to increase sugar cane price. He called for fixing the price at Rs250/40kg in view of increasing cost of inputs.

SAI president also criticised the Indus River System Authority for issuing its no-objection certificate (NOC) for a powerhouse to be built on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal for Punjab. He said that people of Sindh would not accept it because it’s a flood canal and if a powerhouse was built on it, then the canal would need regular flows. He apprehended destruction of crops in Sindh due to this project.

Regarding the wheat crop rate, he said growers had sold their crop to traders for as low as Rs1,100 per 40kg but the wheat flour price in market was increased to Rs60 per kg which was causing financial loss to consumers as well.

The SAI chief expressed grave concern over locusts’ invasion in different parts of Sindh, and observed that both federal and provincial governments had failed to cope with the situation. After ravaging crops in upper Sindh, locust swarms were devouring fields in Tharparkar, Hyderabad and Kohistan. He urged Sindh government to take effective measures in this regard.

Mr Talpur also urged the agriculture department to curb the sale of spurious and substandard pesticides in market.

Mohammad Anwar, Pir Ashfaq Jan, Abdul Rahim Dars and other leaders of growers’ organisations were also present.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2019