RY Khan mills disregard sugar crushing order

Cultivators urge govt to set sugarcane support price at Rs700 per maund

RAHIM YAR KHAN:

The Punjab government on Saturday directed sugar mills in the province to start the crushing process from Sunday (November 15). However, the six sugar mills in Rahim Yar Khan did not start the process, raising concern among sugar cultivators.

One sugar mill, Hamza Sugar Mill, opened its cane gate briefly but closed it soon after a few tractor trolleys entered. The mill administration later claimed the cane gate closed because more tractor trolleys were not present.

Sugarcane farmers expressed concern over the delay in starting the crushing process.

On Sunday, leaders of farmers' organisations Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Syed Mahmoodul Haq Bukhari demanded that the government fix the minimum sugarcane price at Rs700 per maund and direct sugar mills to start crushing immediately.

They said the cost of growing and maintaining sugarcane crops has increased several times due to sharp rises in the prices of fertilisers, agricultural pesticides, diesel and electricity and the failure to announce the sugarcane price has further worsened farmers' financial difficulties.

According to them, if the government sets sugar prices in consultation with sugar mills, it should also set sugarcane prices by taking farmers' production costs into account. Leaving the matter to market forces is unfair to growers.

Sources said the Punjab government had issued a notification announcing the start of the crushing season from November 15. However, despite the scheduled date, six sugar mills in Rahim Yar Khan district did not begin purchasing sugarcane.

The delay in fixing the price has left farmers uncertain about their earnings. They said delaying crushing after the crop is ready not only affects their finances but also makes it difficult to sell sugarcane on time and prepare for the next crop, particularly wheat.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Mills Association's North Zone expressed reservations about the government's crushing orders. According to the association, under the Sugarcane Act 1950, sugar mills have until November 30 to begin crushing.

It said issuing a notification late at night and directing mills to start crushing the following morning is practically impossible to implement. Mills need at least 15 days to prepare their boilers, machinery, safety arrangements and other technical facilities, it added.

It also claimed that sugar mills currently have around 1.3 million tonnes of sugar in their warehouses and have applied for permission to export one million tonnes.

Mills are facing financial difficulties due to high bank mark-up rates and other financial pressures, it said, calling for a review of government policy and deregulation of the sugar industry.

Sugarcane cultivation in Punjab this year is estimated to cover 2.452 million acres, 16% more than last year. Of the province's 47 sugar mills, 41 are operational.