Sugarcane rate

The Sindh government had fixed rate of sugarcane at Rs182 per 40 kg and asked sugar factories to start crushing from November 30, 2017. Also, the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governments had fixed sugarcane rate at Rs180 per 40 kg for 2017-18 crushing season. It merits a mention that the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) on the recommendation of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) had allowed the export of 1.5 million tonnes of sugar on November 28, 2017, with a subsidy of Rs10.70 per kg. The export was allowed keeping in view the demand of sugar at 5.3 million tonnes in the country as compared to production of 7.5 million tonnes during the 2016-17 crushing season.

The provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh and KP are requested to properly enforce implementation of the Provincial Sugar Factories Control Act 1950 and ensure purchase of sugarcane from farmers at the fixed rates. Also, the provincial governments allow their share of subsidy on the export of surplus sugar. This will help export of surplus sugar, earn the much needed foreign exchange for the country and will help resolve farmers’ problems in the disposal of their standing sugarcane crop.

Khan Faraz

Peshawar