Senate body says support price limbo may lead to sugar crisis

ISLAMABAD: Senate standing committee on national food security and research on Wednesday feared a bitter sugar crisis was likely in the making as minimum sugarcane support price issue remains unresolved to this point.

“In view of the prevailing situation the sugarcane cultivation seems to take a hit as frustrated growers were highly likely to shift to other crops, which may lead to a serious slump of the commodity in the country,” the committee, which met under the chair of Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah, said expressing its concerns. “It is disappointing to note that minimum support prices of sugarcane crop, which was notified by the respective provincial governments for the sugarcane growers during current season, have not been implemented yet.”

The Senate body said the minimum support price of Rs160/40 kg as announced by the Sindh High Court was also not been enforced by the provincial government.

“Although it’s a provincial subject after the 18th constitutional amendment, but the federal government should play its role to protect farmers’ rights and the development of agriculture in the country,” the meeting observed.

The committee recommended the federal and provincial governments for evolving a proper mechanism to offer fair prices to farmers for their produces, protect their rights, and save them from exploitation.

“The provincial governments should ensure minimum support price of the crop through sugarcane commissioners,” the Senate body said and urged the authorities to formulating a proper crop policy and planning to avoid such situation. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, minister for national food security and research, informed the committee that the matter was also taken up in the meeting of the Council of Common Interest, where the provincial governments were directed to ensure implementation of minimum support price of sugarcane during the crushing season.