Low sugarcane price worries NA committee

Criticises deregulation policy; says a completely free market does not exist anywhere

ISLAMABAD:

A parliamentary panel has expressed serious concern over low sugarcane prices despite high profits earned by sugar mills.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security met on Wednesday to review agricultural output.

The chairman of the committee, Syed Hussain Tariq, said the month of December had arrived yet 12 percent of sugarcane crushing had been completed. He accused sugar mills of operating arbitrarily and leaving farmers at their mercy.

Officials informed the committee that 11 million tons of sugarcane had been crushed so far, producing 922,000 tons of sugar, while 138,000 tons of sugar stock from last year remained available.

The chairman criticized the deregulation policy for wheat and sugarcane, warning that a completely free market does not exist anywhere in the world.

He questioned whether the government intended to eliminate sugarcane cultivation altogether.

The committee decided to consult the Minister for National Food Security to devise a workable solution for sugarcane pricing while complying with IMF conditions and protecting farmers.