Sugar cane price fixed at Rs425/40kg for 2023-24 season

After a thorough discussion and considering the cost of production worked out by the Sindh Agriculture Department, caretaker chief minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on Monday fixed the minimum sugar cane price at Rs425 per 40 kilograms for the crop season 2023-24. The decision was taken during a meeting he chaired at the CM House.

Briefing Baqar about the cost of sugar cane cultivation, Agriculture Secretary Aijaz Shah said that the per acre cost had been worked out at Rs244,984. Shah said that the average yield of an acre is 650 maunds, meaning Rs377 per 40kg. If 12.7 per cent profit over the total expenditure is added, the price would come to Rs425 per 40kg, he added.

Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam said he had also chaired a meeting of the agriculture department, and the minimum price had been worked out at Rs425, so if the profit of 15 per cent, as demanded by the agriculturists, was added, the price would go to Rs434 per 40kg.

Baqar approved the minimum price of sugar cane at Rs425 per 40kg, and directed Alam to get the price approved by the cabinet through circulation.

Briefing the meeting about the structure and strategy of his department, Shah said that it has 12 wings, including extension, research, agriculture management, training & research, agriculture marketing, cane commissionerate, cotton commissionerate, bureau of supply & price, weight & measures, and planning & monitoring cell.

Different wings of the department have 10 directors general. At this Baqar said that most of the wings had failed to perform their duties. He directed Shah to evaluate the performance of every wing, then close the wings that have lost their utility.

Shah said the agriculture department’s strategy stands for modernising agriculture research, advancing mechanised agriculture, a strong market information system, improving agriculture extension service and water management, increasing farm productivity, reducing poverty, and controlling hoarding and smuggling of essential commodities in coordination with district administrations and law enforcement agencies.

At this Baqar said that most of the growers purchase certified seeds from Punjab or Chinese seeds. The research wing has not introduced any new variety of rice or wheat, he added. He directed Alam to review the organisational set-up of the agriculture department and propose merging or closing of the wings that have failed to perform or are of no further utility. The meeting was also attended by Sindh Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Finance Secretary Kazim Jatoi, Food Secretary Nasir Abbas and other officers concerned.