Sugarcane rush

Sugarcane is the fourth-largest and second-most important cash crop in the country. However, when compared with other countries in terms of yield per-hectare, Pakistan does not seem particularly impressive at all. By enhancing sugarcane yield through sustainable practices, Pakistan can boost agriculture-based revenue and enhance its ability to produce bagasse-based clean electricity.

Sugarcane is also among the most water-intensive crops as it requires approximately 400 cubic metres of water to produce a tonne of sugarcane. It also uses approximately three-and-a-half times more water than cotton. In fact, sugarcane alone consumes roughly 42 per cent of the total annual household water demand in Pakistan. As such, there is an urgent need to improve water efficiency when it comes to sugarcane production.

Khan Faraz

Peshawar