KARACHI: Caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar on Monday fixed the minimum price of sugar cane at Rs425 per 40 kg for the crop 2023-24.

According to a CM House spokesperson, the decision to this effect was taken after a thorough discussion and considering the cost of production worked out by the agriculture department.

A meeting held here at CM House was attended among others by Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Finance Secretary Kazim Jatoi, Agriculture Secretary Aijaz Shah, and Food Secretary Nasir Abbas.

Briefing the chief minister about the cost of sugar cane cultivation, the agriculture secretary said that per acre cost had been worked out at Rs244,984, and the average yield of an acre was 650 maunds, meaning Rs377 per 40kg. “If 12.7 per cent profit over the total expenditures is added the price would come to Rs425 per 40kg,” he added.

The chief secretary said that he had also chaired a meeting of the agriculture department and the minimum price was worked out at Rs425 and if the profit of 15pc as demanded by the agriculturists were added, the price would go to Rs434 per 40 kg.

The chief minister approved the support price of sugar cane at Rs425 per 40 kg and directed the chief secretary to get the price approved by the cabinet through circulation.

The agriculture secretary, briefing the chief minister about the structure and strategy of his department, said that it had 12 wings, including extension, agriculture management, training and research, agriculture marketing, cane commissionerate, cotton commissionerate, Bureau of Supply & Price, Weight & Measures and Planning & Monitoring Cell.

He said that different wings of the departments had 10 director generals.

The chief minister said that most of the wings of the department had failed to perform. He directed the agriculture secretary to evaluate the performance of every wing and wind up those wings which had lost their utility.

The CM was told that the agriculture department’s strategy was modernisation of agriculture research, advancement of mechanised agriculture, strong market information system, improved agriculture extension service, improved water management, aiming to increase productivity and reduce poverty, control hoarding/smuggling of essential commodities in coordination with district administration and law enforcing agencies.

The CM said that most of the growers were purchasing certified seed from Punjab or Chinese seed. “The research wing has not brought any new variety of rice or wheat,” he added.

Justice Baqar directed the chief secretary to review the set-up and organisation of the agriculture department and proposed merger/winding of the wings which had failed to perform or were of no further utility.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2023