Five sugar mills of Badin district have still to ignite their boilers to start crushing season, scheduled from 10 November 2008, the deadline set by the Sindh government.
Sources said Pingrio, Dewan Khoski, Dewean Talhar, Mirza and Army Sugar Mills were yet to ignite boilers and start crushing. They said it is technically mandatory to ignite boilers about 12 days before starting crushing, but these mills are still reluctant to start this process, defying the government order. The delay in starting crushing season will badly affect the sowing of new crops including wheat and vegetables besides inflicting financial losses on growers.
It may be noted that last year growers faced huge losses due to monopoly of the sugar millers who purchased sugarcane at very low rates between Rs45 to 57 per 40kg against the official rates of Rs63 per 40 kg. The growers held series of demonstrations across Sindh province, asking the government to direct millers to purchase sugarcane at fixed rates but no outcome in this connection could be achieved.
This year many sugarcane growers have switched over to other crops because of these atrocities of sugar millers. As a result, low sugarcane production is expected this year.
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