'Sugarcane production target to be achieved'

The use of best variety seeds and timely payment of dues to farmers by mill owners will help achieve the sugarcane production target this year. This was stated by Punjab Cane Commissioner Abdul Ghafoor Bhatti while talking to media persons after a meeting with sugar mills administration officials, farmers and agriculturists here on Friday.
He said that 42 sugar mills are working in Punjab, which would produce some 2.05 million tons sugar on crushing 21.3 million metric tons sugarcane. "While sugar mills have made about 95 percent payment to the growers, according to the law, they are bound to pay all dues within 15 days, failing which they are bound to pay 11 percent mark-up," he added.
He said that complaints against any mill could be reported to him, the Cane Commissioner, the Additional Cane Commissioner or the DCO, who can award up to two years imprisonment, or impose a fine equal to double the price of the sugarcane.