According to Recorder Report appearing the other day, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has, among other things in its survey of sugar industry, suggested imposition of complete ban on cultivation of unapproved varieties of sugarcane.
This, of course, has reference to its seemingly primary focus on the cultivation side of sugarcane around which revolves the nation's sugar economy. The survey should bring to the fore the causes of low per hectare yield, including shrinkage of area under cultivation and inclement weather, besides shortage of irrigation water.
As such, its underlying idea seems to be greater emphasis on making the best of the overall obtaining circumstances. For, as the current per hectare yield of sugarcane in Pakistan is 48.8 tons/hectare, comparing unfavourably with the situation in developed and many developing countries, in which yield averages more than 60 tons/hectare, efforts can be made to raise the yield.
In this context, the KCCI has recalled that the yield had increased from 38 tons/hectare in 1981-82 to 48.8 tones/hectare in 2005-06, saying it can be further raised through co-ordinated operation of all stakeholders of this sector. As such, in so far as the farmers are concerned, the chamber study has pointed out that in order to increase production, they should desist from growing unapproved, discarded and diseased low-yield varieties of sugarcane.
Viewed, in this perspective, the chamber's proposal for introduction of new varieties of sugarcane should appeal to reason. However, while noting that the research institutes of the government are working in that direction in their own way, stress has been laid on doing more. In this regard, stress has been laid on strengthening the existing sugarcane breeding research stations through enhanced budget allocations along with harnessing of competent experts.
Related to this approach would also be found its idea of controlling cane diseases and pest attack on the crop, by enabling farmers to take the needed preventive measures fairly in advance. Elaborating on this, the chamber will be seen to have rightly noted that the use of disease-free and preferably disease-resistant varieties and application of pesticides at the right time can go a long way to increase sugarcane production.
The same can be said about the farmers' responsibility of removing diseased plants from the fields and burying or burning them. This may be why the chamber has proposed that credit facilities should be provided to farmers at the time of cultivation so that they can use better varieties of sugarcane.
Evidently, this approach forming part of the plant protection exercise, understandable should be KCCI's suggestion that the sugar mills should establish biological control laboratories at their premises to help farmers effectively control insect pests. All this, put together, will bring to the fore the urgency of launching a thoroughly planned effort at the very beginning of the whole operation of sugar production which has remained plagued by too many unresolved problems, invariably, leading to controversies to the growing detriment of the consumers.
Of course, as pointed out in the chamber report, such efforts can be facilitated through the collaboration of agriculture department and sugar mills for which education programmes would be required as a priority. However, along with comprehensive and well co-ordinated programmes it should be possible to educate the farmers with regard to timing of cultivation of sugarcane, use of modern techniques and preparation of the crushing schedule so that cultivation of next crop may not be delayed.
Reference, in this context, may be made to a suggestion that sugarcane be cultivated in September, instead of February as now, to ensure better yield. For sugar recovery in October tends to be about 5 percent, and improves steadily each successive month up to March. Commencement of the crushing by mid-November, will thus improve recovery.
Reference has also been made to maximum emphasis on increasing sugarcane area, by improving vertical production of the crop, thereby encouraging farmers to grow high yielding varieties, with which has been linked the need of timely payments by sugar mills to the farmers. Ridden with too many problems, the sugar economy has come to a stage at which adoption of a holistic plan for survival of the industry will appear to have become the crying need.
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