Sindh sugar mills resent cane commissioner's decision

Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Sindh Zone (PSMA-SZ) has demanded revision of the "abrupt decision" taken by the Cane Commissioner (CC) in connection with the deductions from the amount due for cane.
The Cane Commissioner (CC) in a letter to the sugar mills of Sindh had pointed out that under rule 13(2) of Sugar Factories Control Rules 1950, it is mandatory that sugar factory shall not make any deduction from the amount due for cane sold to sugar mills by the cane growers except such deductions as may be prescribed by the provincial government by notification from time to time.
He had further mentioned to complaints received from cane growers that the sugar mills are unauthorisedly deducting amount from the cane price sold to the sugar mills on one pretext or the other.
"This practice should henceforth be stopped and if any such deductions have been made, the same may be refunded to the cane growers." He had further directed that in future there should be no deduction from the cane price except the deduction prescribed by the government.
According to the CC a team of experts was constituted who have analysed the sugar cane samples of various varieties in the lab of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Agriculture Research Institute, Tando Jam.
Their report reveals that the varieties have potential in sucrose hence deduction by the sugar mills is unjustified and illegal.
The PSMA-SZ has, however, challenged these findings, pointing to the "growing menace of cultivation, multiplication and supply of 'Disco' and similar other unapproved varieties, like B-43/60, CO-245, CP 29-72-84, Bansi etc."
These varieties, despite banned by the government of Sindh are widespread and it is not practicable for sugar mills to segregate each lot of sugarcane supplies, unapproved varieties intermixed with approved ones. It is not possible to refuse even total loads of unapproved varieties and face problems detriment to sugarcane crushing campaigns.
The problem could have been overcome if the authorities had firmly removed this evil practice.
"Instead, your letter alleges sugar mills opting for deduction of price for poor quality, which is absolutely unfair," it said.
PSMA-SZ has asked the Cane Commissioner (CC) to consider the issues in totality and in a fair manner. "Rejection of sugarcane lots being supplied to mills containing unapproved varieties would be more problematic," it said.