RAHIM YAR KHAN, March 30: Farmers are facing problems in selling sugarcane to sugar mills as the mills in the district have stopped issuing permits to them. The district, which is considered a good quality cotton-growing area in the world, has been swept away by the four sugar mills in the district. Before the 1990s, there were only two sugar mills, Jetha Bhatta sugar mills and United sugar mills at Goth Machi. Later, JDW sugar mills at Jamaldinwali and Ittihad sugar mills at Akramabad were established despite a ban by the government on establishing sugar mills in the cotton area.

The owners of the sugar mills got thousands of acres on lease from the farmers after 2004. To other farmers, they offered soft loans, seeds, fertilizers and agricultural instruments to tempt them to cultivate sugarcane. In 2005, the sugar mills bought cane at Rs100 per 40kg. Such a high rates attracted farmers to give up cultivating cotton and go for sugarcane for more gains. In 2005, cotton was cultivated at 792,684 acres in the district, while sugarcane was cultivated at 141,162 acres. In 2006, cotton was cultivated on 752,753 acres while sugarcane’s share rose to 195,580 acres.

In 2007, the cotton crop was reduced to 656,000 acres while sugarcane was grown at 260,000 acres.

The sugar mills did not start crushing season on Oct 1, because of low rates of sugar and the bumper crop of sugarcane. They delayed crushing season until Nov 20, 2007, after the government settled the rates of sugarcane at Rs60 per 40kg. Farmers could not cultivate wheat due to the delayed start of crushing season.

The millers discriminated farmers in issue of permits and only favorites could get permits. Millers issued permits to their political supporters in return for votes as in the peak crushing season, the general elections were held. In several cases, the administration sold permits for Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 each. Ittihad sugar mills also dismissed its manager for selling permits. Many agents bought sugarcane at Rs40 per 40kg from farmers. Those who had bought permits were exploited by the sugar mills as the administration deducted 2,400kg to 3,200kg per trolley. A trolley load is 20,000kg.

The Hamza sugar mills also deducted 3 per cent from farmers on each payment. When farmers protested against the exploitation, cases were registered against them. At this, a large number of farmers protested on March 6 outside the mill. Farmers also threatened to demonstrate again on March 17 outside the DCO office. The mill administration, however, promised to pay actual rates and withdraw cases against the farmers.

Some farmers say that after March 17, the mill administration pressured them to provide a written apology and banned their entrance to the mill premises. By the first half of March, 90,000 acres of the sugarcane have yet to be bought by the sugar mills.

Kissan Welfare Council of Pakistan Chairman Ahmed Ali Akhtar told Dawn if sugar mills ended their crushing season on April 15, the crop on 50,000 to 60,000 acres would remain unutilised. With the passage of time, the weight of the crop decreases day by day due to which farmers have to bear a great loss. He demanded the sugar mills continue crushing till the crop was bought from every farmer. Kissan Welfare Council Patron Chaudhry Muhammad Aalamgir said that in India the rate of sugarcane was Rs75 per 40kg and sugar Rs25 per kg.

But in Pakistan, the sugar mill mafia wanted to buy sugarcane at Rs60 per 40kg and sell sugar at Rs32 per kg. He added that in India the prices of DAP fertilizer, electricity and diesel were lower than those in Pakistan.

He demanded that the government make committees comprising local administration and farmers to check the sugar mills mafia.