|
Sugar millers adding to cane growers miseries
LAHORE–The sugar millers are adding to miseries of sugarcane
growers by paying them much lesser rate in the Punjab.
According to a market survey, the sugarcane growers have
continuously been ripping off by the sugar millers as they
were not being paid the official price in the province. The
price of 40 kg sugarcane is mostly ranging from Rs 28 to 32
against the announced price of Rs 42 per 40 kg.
In several parts of the province, including Rahim Yar Khan,
Jhang, Samundari and Mandi Bahaudin, the farmers were more or
less getting somewhat reasonable price. While in Bahawalnagar
District and almost in rest of the province, the growers were
complaining about the atrocities of the Sugar Mills. Only the
farmers of Bahawalpur Division were reportedly getting
sugarcane price ranging between Rs.38 to 42 per 40 Kg.
The farmers also complained that all sugar mills in the
province have not started crushing season yet. "Only 14 sugar
mills so far have started crushing season in the province,"
they said.
The farmers were of the view that due to unnecessary delay by
the sugar millers in starting crushing season in the province
and lesser payments to the growers, sowing of ensuing wheat
crop has adversely been affected. They said that around 1.5
lakh acre of land under the sugarcane cultivation could not be
effectively harvested due to the tactics of the sugar millers
in the province.
The sugarcane growers deplored that outstanding dues of crores
of rupees in respect of last crushing season have still not
been paid by the sugar mills managements. They demanded of the
government to press the mill owners to make payments without
further delay.
They informed that management of numerous have not paid the
dues of sugarcane growers amounting to Rs. 8 crores so far.
They demanded that Federal Government should arrange payment
of outstanding dues as the mills managements have
intentionally held up the dues and probably invested somewhere
to earn interest. They apprehended that if present impasse is
continued it would not only incur financial loss to growers
but also create shortage of sugar in the country.
They sugarcane growers also complained about the attitude of
some sugar mills saying that the management of these mills
were putting deductions on the pretext of the cane being dry
and with trash.
They demanded of the government to ensure the purchase of
sugarcane following duly weighing by government registered
weighing machines (Kandas). They said that government should
take stern action against illegal weighing machines and make
allout efforts to persuade sugar mills owners to pay prices to
the farmers within due course of time in accordance with the
prices fixed by the government.
The farmers also criticised the sugar import policy of the
present government saying that import of Indian sugar in
Pakistan have been to the advantage of the Indian sugarcane
farmers and not Pakistani farmers.
December 14, 2001
|
Other News
|
