THATTA, Dec 18: The unnecessary delay in resumption of cane crushing will lead to serious repercussions, including obstruction in sowing of wheat and other cereals, damage to rotational crops, and acute financial losses to growers. However, it will benefit mill owners in the province.

This was stated by Dr Haji Khan Keerio, director, National Sugarcane Research Institute (NSRI), while talking to newsmen at Makli, Thatta, on Wednesday.

Dr Keerio said that out of a total of 74 sugar mills established throughout the country, 24 were set up in Sindh which were crushing a record 21 million tons of sugarcane in its formative years, which had been reduced to 17 million tons in 1998-99, and now it had been further reduced to 12 million tons, and added that the graph was still further shrinking with every passing year.

He said that In 1998-99, the sugarcane production was 63 tons per hectare equivalent to 600 to 630 maunds per acre in Sindh, but owing to inadequacy of irrigation water periodically for several years till 2002 this yield graph too was reduced to 48 tons per hectare, i.e. 480 maunds per acre in Sindh.

He said that in Punjab, contrary to Sindh, due to its massively-installed tube-wells and underground sweet water reserves, the situation had been further improved, whereas against the per hectare yield in the year 1998-99, which was 43 tons, i.e. 410 maunds per acre, had increased to 48 tons per hectare, i.e. 480 maunds per acre.

He said that since the last couple of years due to various situations including calamities and catastrophes in Sindh, the ever-descending graph of the yield, i.e. shortage of sugarcane, evolved an atmosphere of competition in cane procurement plus the somehow non-friendly factory policies of some past governments, non-compliance in procurement of sugarcane and the rates of sugar led to the crises.

He elucidated that making sugar price as a bone of contention and encashing on the situation, the factory owners delayed crushing this year, which they were bound to start from the first week of November every year as per the Sugarcane Act 1952.

He said that by starting late, the factory owners would deal a blow to the growers, who were in a haste to get their lands vacated for wheat and other cereals, on their own terms, and have managerial expenses reduced, as a majority of the factories had already retrenched a large number of workers and employees.

He said that besides they would also avail high recovery rates which on record had reached upto 12 per cent till mid-January.

Dr Keerio said that under the prevailing circumstances, the factory owners would be able to get comparatively more recovery and reduce managerial expenses.

He said that it was not justifiable for the mill owners by sticking up on procuring merely at the rate of Rs40 to Rs43 per 40kg.

He said the growers’ representative bodies including the Sindh Abadgar Board and the Chamber of Agriculture and Sugarcane Growers Association are required to effectively raise their voice and hold talks with mill owners so as to streamline the agricultural industry, which is “a backbone of the country’s economy”.

He said for the August-September sowing of sugarcane, 90-acre inch and for spring cultivation at least 165-acre inch water was required in Sindh, which was manageable in rotation of perennial areas.

He said that the factories too require special attention, facilities, and subsidies, and early disposal of its produce to keep the system working.

Dr Keerio suggested introduction of ratio-proportional system in Pakistan, which was being effectively operated in Thailand, Australia, Cuba, Fiji, and even the controlled economy of China.

He said that in these sugarcane-growing countries, where except quality premium, the sugarcane suppliers were 70 per cent co-sharers of the produce, i.e. sugar.

He concluded that this system if implemented would bring relief to and increase confidence among the growers, who will work harder to grow more and more in the best interest of the national economy.