The farmer community has slammed the alleged 'cartelisation' by sugar mills which has since long hurt the interests of growers and the national economy. Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) sources here claimed on Tuesday that sugar mills' cartels for years had exploited the sugarcane growers, crushing them through various means such as delayed payments, under weighing of sugarcane, tampered weigh bridges etc. The farmers body representatives asserted that the extra billion, spent by the millers this year, was the result of their own myopic and unilateral policies, which landed them in that situation.
A majority of cane growers humiliated and short- changed by millers year after year had switched to other crops last year, resulting in the present shortage, they added.
At the time of partition in 1947, there were only two sugar mills in Pakistan, while today there are 74, which clearly indicates that it is a viable and growing industry, running profitably, said sources. The FAP sources urged the sugar mills management to look at the larger picture, to see that short-term policies would never work and serve in no one's interests.
They said consistent policies were needed, where all stakeholders - farmers, millers and consumers - were assured a level playing field, and urged the government to take appropriate steps in that regard.
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