Senate body for farmer-friendly policies to boost sugar production
By Tariq Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Livestock has underlined the need for introducing farmer friendly policies to give boost to the production of sugar in the country.
The Committee which met here Thursday under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Amjad Abbas unanimously passed a resolution urging the Government to fix the minimum price of sugarcane in Punjab at Rs. 55 per 40 kilograms and Rs. 60 per 40 kilograms in NWFP and Sindh with a view to ensure that the farmer gets a suitable remuneration for his hard work. The Committee passed the resolution after having a briefing on the measures taken by the Federal Government to protect the interests of the sugarcane growers.
The Members of the Committee were of the view that timely start of the crushing season, ensuring accurate weighing mechanism and timely payment to the grower would arrest the of sugarcane growers' trend to opt for other crops. It was pointed out that the unbecoming attitude of the Sugar Mill owners has depressed the farmers so much so that the growers are not willing to sow sugarcane. There was a general consensus that a level playing field should be afforded to all the stakeholders in the field of sugar industry with a view to ensure that the industry flourishes and the production of sugar does not fall. It was suggested that core sampling of the crop be ensured for the growth of sugar industry.
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan stated that the Sugar Factory Control Act, 1950 needs amendment/improvement to bring it at par with the present day requirements. He informed the Committee that the Provincial Governments have initiated steps aimed at bringing the improvement in the Sugar Control Act. He said that payment to sugarcane growers has always been a major issue in the past but, by the grace of Almighty Allah, the issue of payment to sugarcane growers has been handled tactfully and effectively and that there were almost no complaints in this regard. He disclosed that reports of record crops of cotton and sunflower in Sindh have been received whereas record crop of rice in the province of Sindh has been reported this year. He assured the Committee that Government was committed to increase the production of cotton and that necessary steps were already in hand for the purpose.
Regarding the measures taken by the Government to protect mangoes presently facing chronic disease, the Committee was informed that that mango is the second largest fruit of the country grown on commercial scale in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab and that it covers an area of about 103 thousand hectares with a production of 1035 thousand tonnes. It was told that in recent years, besides other diseases of mango, sudden death problem attained the status of a major malady. It was further told that all the major varieties of mango were found susceptible to disease and that the soil analysis of infested orchards indicated that the type of soil had no relation with the incidence of disease. The Minister informed the Committee that some scientists/specialists from Australia will arrive in Pakistan next month to carry out necessary studies/surveys and suggest remedial measures.
The meeting was attended besides the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Muhammad Amjad Abbas by Senators Shuja-ul-Mulk, Mrs. Kalsoom Perveen, Mir Wali Muhammad Badini, Ms. Agha Pari Gul, Muhammad Abbas Komaili, Dr. Azizullah Satakzai, Syed Murad Ali Shah and Abdul Latif Ansari. Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Mr. Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Secretary M/o Food, Agriculture, Mr. Ismail Qureshi and senior officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture were also present. Sardar Bahadur Ahmed Khan Sihar, MNA attended the meeting on special invitation.