Delay in mill operations and absence of an official cane price put wheat sowing at risk across the province
KARACHI: Sugarcane growers across Sindh are facing mounting uncertainty as sugar mills delay the start of the 2025–26 crushing season and the provincial government has yet to announce an indicative cane price. The situation is creating pressure on farmers who must clear their fields for timely wheat sowing, a critical crop for food security.
Although the Sindh agriculture department notified November 15 as the official crushing start date, several mills had not begun operations even by November 21, leaving farmers unsure about procurement timelines and pricing. “There is still no clarity from the mills on what they will pay growers,” said Sindh Abadgar Ittehad president Zubair Talpur.
Unlike previous years, the government has appeared hesitant to fix the official cane rate—an issue being viewed in the context of IMF recommendations urging provinces to avoid market distortions and reduce state intervention. This has heightened frustration among growers who argue that they cannot plan their crop cycles without a defined price.
Farmers’ bodies are demanding Rs600 per 40kg, citing high production costs and rising retail sugar prices, which currently stand at Rs225–230 per kg. The Sindh Agriculture Research department, however, has recommended Rs545 per 40kg, based on increased input expenses and overall crop performance.
Sugarcane is cultivated on nearly 790,000 acres in Sindh, much of which must transition to wheat crop immediately after cane harvesting. Delays in crushing, farmers warn, will push wheat sowing beyond the optimal window, potentially affecting production.
The sector’s challenges were compounded earlier this month when a meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board could not proceed due to the absence of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association representatives. The matter later moved to the provincial cabinet, which reaffirmed November 15 as the crushing start date, though enforcement remains weak.
Sindh hosts 38 sugar mills—with a 39th expected to begin trial operations—making it a politically influential sector. Despite legal provisions requiring mills to begin crushing no later than November 30, growers say millers routinely delay operations without consequences, forcing farmers to settle for lower prices to avoid crop losses. With the wheat sowing season already underway in many districts, growers are urging the government to intervene and ensure the immediate start of crushing as well as clarity on cane pricing to safeguard both farmer livelihoods and the province’s food supply chain.
