ISLAMABAD: Minister for Industries, Production and National Food Secu­rity Rana Tanveer has taken notice of farmers’ complaints regarding the low prices of sugarcane offered by sugar mills and sought a report from provincial cane commissioners on sugar prices.

Chairing a meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board on Saturday, the minister emphasised that the exploitation of farmers would not be tolerated and stressed that sugar mill owners must pay a fair price for sugarcane.

The board also reviewed the current situation of sugar stocks in the country and expressed complete satisfaction with the existing reserves.

Mr Tanveer said that the timely commencement of the sugar crushing season is a significant achievement, ensuring the smooth supply of sugar and bringing stability to the market.

A report on the sugarcane crop estimates for 2024-25, presented to the board by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, shows that sugarcane was grown on 1.194 million hectares in the country. The expected production is likely to dec­line by 3.5 per cent, with the yield estimated at 71.630 tonnes per hectare in 2024-25 compared to 74.255 tonnes in 2023-24.

As a result, sugarcane production is projected to be 85.500 million tonnes in 2024-25 against 87.638m tonnes in 2023-24, showing a decline of 2.4pc.

The estimated per capita consumption of sugar during the 2021-24 period stands at 25.7kg per annum, compared to 26.4kg per annum in 2022-23, according to the estimates presented to the board by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Going dry
Updated 07 Apr, 2025

Going dry

Authorities should refrain from undertaking any water scheme that infringes on rights of any federating unit to avoid more controversies.
Afghan return
07 Apr, 2025

Afghan return

AS expected, the government of Pakistan is moving ahead with its plan to forcibly repatriate Afghan Citizenship Card...
Hurting women
07 Apr, 2025

Hurting women

MONTH after month, the figures of crimes against women in the country indicate that our society is close to...
Not cricket
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Not cricket

It is high time that the PCB sets things right; even if it demands a complete overhaul of the system.
Balochistan deadlock
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Balochistan deadlock

Akhtar Mengal’s demands to release women activists should seriously be considered.
Escalating brutality
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Escalating brutality

The world’s patience is running out. Israel must be held accountable under international law for war crimes.