Pakistan sets Nov. 15 as sugar crushing start to protect farmers - Assalaamu Alaikum
Assalaamu Alaikum - Pakistan’s Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain has warned sugar mills that strict measures will be taken if they do not begin crushing on time, a step aimed at protecting farmers from being taken advantage of and keeping sugar available in shops.
Farmers suffer when mills delay the crushing season. When crushing starts late - it normally begins in November - growers lose crop quality and planting the next crop gets pushed back, which means financial loss for families dependent on cane.
Sugar is one of the most widely used food items in Pakistan, and spikes in its price often spark public anger and political accusations of hoarding or cartel behavior, especially around elections or during economic instability.
At a Sugar Advisory Board meeting in Islamabad, chaired by the minister, it was decided the crushing season will begin on Nov. 15. The meeting included the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association delegation, provincial cane commissioners and officials from the ministries of industries and commerce.
The ministry said Rana Tanveer Hussain stressed that any mill failing to start crushing on the scheduled date will face strict action. He also said payments owed to farmers will be ensured before the season begins, and that the government is taking decisions to safeguard growers from exploitation.
The Nov. 15 start date was reached after consultations with provinces and industry representatives so sugarcane farmers don’t face unnecessary hardship.
Pakistan saw a high-profile sugar problem in July when retail prices shot up to around Rs200 per kilogram in parts of the country, despite an announced retail cap at Rs173 per kilogram. Observers point to weak enforcement of rules and a lack of transparency as reasons the sugar crisis recurs each year.
May Allah make provisions easy for our farmers and guide those in authority to act justly.
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