By Muhammad Luqman
Above-average temperatures in Punjab during the second half of September have slowed sugarcane growth, potentially delaying the start of the crushing season by at least two weeks.
“Temperatures have stayed above 30°C during this period, while sugarcane grows best between 20°C and 29°C,” said Muhammad Kashif Munir, Director and Chief Scientist at the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI) in Faisalabad.
Speaking to this repoter, he said sugar recovery in the first week of October was around 9%, below the ideal 10–12% needed for mills to crush economically.
However, Kashif expressed hope that cooler temperatures in central Punjab, now around 28–29°C, would speed up ripening in the coming weeks.
He noted that floods had not caused major damage to the sugarcane crop in Punjab. “The effect of floods on sugar content may not be as serious as that of high temperatures,” he said.
Kashif predicted the sugarcane crushing season might start after mid-November. “The sugar industry in Pakistan is seasonal, and mills usually operate for about three months,” he added.
Pakistan’s sugar production, coming from over 80 mills — more than half in Punjab — is expected to exceed 6.5 million tons from roughly 65 million tons of sugarcane.
The SRI is also developing climate-smart sugarcane varieties that can better withstand high temperatures common in the Punjab plains.
Farmers, meanwhile, have urged the Punjab government to direct sugar mills to start crushing by November 1 to ensure timely wheat cultivation.
“Any delay in sugarcane crushing could push back wheat sowing, which would hurt yields of this staple crop,” said Chaudhry Khalid Hussain Baath, Chairman of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad.
He added that the sugarcane crop is now ready for harvesting. “Clearing sugarcane fields on time is crucial so farmers can sow wheat before November 20. Delays could threaten food security,” he said, urging governments to support farmers rather than favor any single industry.
The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) said there are enough sugar stocks in the country to meet demand for Pakistan’s 240 million people until November 18. These stocks must be cleared before the new crushing season begins.
A PSMA spokesperson added that standing floodwaters are still preventing harvesting in some fields and have affected crop quality, particularly sugar content.
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