Pakistan occupies an important position among cane producing countries. It ranks fifth in cane acreage and production, and 13th in sugar production. The area under cultivation increased up to 1994-95 and then levelled off. And the average yield increased until 1995-96 and then became stagnant with sugar recovery remaining the same up to 2002-03, increasing afterwards with the development of new varieties.

The industry is expanding without planning. There are 78 mills all over the country. The present installed capacity is of approximately six million tons of production per annum against 2.9 million tons in 2004-05.

Almost all mills are running under capacity due to low sugarcane production which reflects the scope of crop research. The government needs to stop further impromptu expansions.

Some sugar mills are installed in cotton belt which cannot produce enough cane to fulfil the mill requirements and the mills depend on the cane purchased from other areas. The huge setup of sugar industry is causing serious implications for the industry and growers alike.

During bumper crop season, farmers get lower price than the minimum support price. The mill’s management also delays payment to growers. Under weighing is another serious problem. Similarly, the involvement of middleman has further intensified the problems. The farmer gets only 28 per cent of profit while the rest goes to the intermediary person and the factory owner.

Farmers wait long to dispose off their cane to mills. During a poor-crop season, mill management tries to purchase cane from areas even beyond their reach because of de-zoning. This leads to a competition in prices which is beneficial for farmers but results in low sugar production. Such type of competition is unhealthy for farmers and the industry equally. This leads to huge foreign exchange spending on sugar import.

Pakistan can raise the yield by more than 100 per cent from high-yielding varieties and approved technology. Emphasis should be on vertical-yield acreage increase instead of horizontal because of the anticipated drought and water shortage.

Varieties such as CPF-237, SPF-213, HSF-240, CP-77/400 and CP-72/2080 are rapidly replacing the existing Indian variety due to high sugar contents by 10.5-12.7 per cent and other traits. Another Indian variety “Disco” is being replaced by ‘Thatta-10’ which matures early and has high sugar contents. Since, there is no price incentive for cane growers leaving them to prefer unapproved varieties having high-cane weight with low contents like the CO-1148, Disco, Super Badam, Fakhar-e-China, Alu Bakhara, Rich man and etc.

Cane breeding research is handicapped due to climatic conditions, inappropriate breeding facilities (cane fuzz-seed production) and shortage of funds to run research programmes effectively. In Pakistan, sugarcane flowers only in lower-Sindh costal areas, Jabban valley in Malakand agency, the NWFP and in Murree Hills. However, viable seed production is still a problem due to climatic conditions. The current breeding programmes cannot fulfil the varietal requirements of growers as such programmes depend on the import of exotic cane-setts and fuzz-seed of sugarcane varieties that needs heavy investment in foreign exchange.

The good potential variety plays a fundamental role in increasing both cane and sugar yields. The varieties with good tillering, more ratoonability and higher contents have significant importance for production.

At present, more than 50 per cent varieties cultivated in Punjab and Sindh are not approved by the Seed Council. These varieties are not recommended therefore, their performance remains extremely poor because of lodging, insect pests and diseases, low sugar recovery and late-maturity. Availability of improved varieties has always been a problem, particularly when a new commercial variety is released. Unapproved varieties lead to sudden disease infestation. Farmers generally do not practice proper treatment.

Despite difficulties in developing new varieties, the Coordinated Sugar Crops Research Programme of PARC has released 23 high-yielding varieties with another 19 in the pipeline.

Strengthening of sugarcane breeding institutes: The research for varietal development is handicapped due to lack of funds and appropriate cane breeding facilities, therefore the import of cane setts and fuzz is needed till the time our own facility becomes functional.

Sugarcane research programmes should be strengthened by deploying more resources. The institutes should be allocated at least 30 per cent cash from the cess fund intended to support research but is now being used for building roads.

Vertical increase in production: The vertical increase in production can be achieved by decreasing the area from one million hectares to 0.7 million for optimum irrigation; cultivation of approved varieties; judicious/optimal and timely use of crop inputs; proper management of crop residues. Sugarbeet needs to be tried as an alternative sugar crop and if successful, can be introduced for commercial cultivation.

Multiplication of seed: Seed multiplication is very negligible which causes the availability problem. Large quantity is required to plant one acre and due to the non-availability of good quality seed, farmers use low quality that effects production. There is no facility to multiply cane seed at the government research farms.

Farmers should be encouraged to plant new high-yielding varieties and adopt recommended production technology through joint efforts of the agriculture extension departments and sugar mills management.

Credit facilities and extension services for growers: The industry can play a vital role in improving cane yield and sugar production by providing credit facilities in kind and extension services to farmers, especially the resource-poor farmers for timely purchase and application of required inputs like good variety seed, weedicides, fertilizers, pesticides etc. The interest free short-term production loan needs to be extended to growers which may be recovered from the cane supplied to mills.

Establishment of biological pest-control laboratories: Mills should establish biological control laboratories to help farmers in controlling sugarcane insect pests, economically and safely.

Some mills have already established such laboratories with the technical assistance of PARC. Provincial agricultural research organizations should also extend technical help and services to establish such laboratories in the private sector.

Timely payments to growers: Timely payment to growers is important. Policy decisions should be made and implemented strictly for payments in three days. In case of delay mills should pay interest to farmers according to the rules. Payment at the mills’ office through cane procurement receipt (CPR) needs to be changed. It is proposed that the CPR must be considered as a cheque and by presenting a CPR at a local bank the farmer should be able to draw the amount mentioned.

Quality-premium payment system: The quality payment shall greatly improve our yield and reduce the price of sugar. Therefore, the government should implement quality premium payment plan soon for the farmers who grow high quality cane with higher sugar recovery.

Training of manpower: Almost all institutes are facing trained-manpower problems. Thus, trainings of the existing scientific manpower in various disciplines like, sugarcane breeding, agronomy, entomology, pathology, biotechnology, engineering etc., are needed. These trainings may be funded from the cess fund.

Proper utilization of press mud: Press mud is a by-product of sugar industry and is rich in organic matter, major plant nutrients and micronutrients. Its use as organic manure can improve soil physical and chemical properties. There is a need to recycle press mud as organic manure in agriculture. Use of press mud should be encouraged as soil conditioner and supplement nutrients. Burning of press mud in brick kilns should be prohibited. Nutrient indexing surveys of sugarcane and growing areas should be conducted to develop a sound and sustainable nutrient package for the crop.

Re-establishment of zoning system: Due to the de-zoning system, the mill managements purchase cane from areas beyond their reach leading to competition in prices which is beneficial for farmers but results in low production. Such practice is unhealthy for farmers, industry and the country leading to huge foreign exchange spending on sugar import.

There should be a zoning system so that farmers should not be free to sell their produce to any mill they like. Due to the existing de-zoning system, the development work that was being done by the mills during the zoning system has greatly been reduced.

The mills would not like to invest their money on development unless they are sure to get their cane delivered to their mill. The mill owners also hesitate to extend credit facilities to growers under de-zoning system. This has also encouraged the middleman business which has increased the cost and decreased the quality of cane. This has also increased the after harvest losses, transport expenses, low sugar recovery and above all reduced sugar production.