Sugarcane growers in Sindh have expressed concern over Prime Minister's decision to grant extension to sugar mills to further postpone crushing season by 15 days and one month in Sindh and Punjab, respectively.
Talking to Business Recorder on Monday a group of PPPP MPAs, led by Shazia Marri, said that the extension in crushing season was against the interests of growers whose crops were ripe for harvesting.
They said that once the crop is ripe it should be harvested forthwith, otherwise it begins to dry p. In case of sugarcane, it is a misconception that it can sustain dryness--for months--and does not lose weight. The MPAs have demanded of Sindh Chief Minister to take decision regarding sugarcane crushing season, keeping in view Sindh's situation.
They said that the chief minister, himself being a farmer should realise the "big game" being played in Islamabad and take decision independent of PM's decision and ensure cane crushing to start from October15. They said that growers are still to receive last year's payment, which many mills have not cleared.
They said that irritated by the recently fixed Rs 67 per 40 kg support price of sugarcane the mill owners were trying to devise means to cheat growers and purchase the crop at their dictated rates. The MPAs said that delayed harvesting would place the growers under distress, as they would be late for sowing the next crop.
At the same time, late harvesting, late payment, and late sowing, all combined together push the farmers back by one crop season. They said that the Prime Minister was protecting interests of his party and cabinet colleagues who are in sugar business.
Marri said that the government of Shaukat Aziz was oblivious of sugar shortage in the coming season. The mill owners are not prepared to run the mills to their full capacity so that room for import of sugar could be created. She said that sugar importers were no different from sugar mill owners. Import of sugar brings them more profits than running the mills, which is hassle-free.
She said that major importers are in the government. They operate through others to keep their identity concealed. The MPAs said that PPP holds sugar mill owner responsible for the artificial shortage of sugar in the past and increase in its price.