Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sugar output set to decline by 6.6 percent

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has been informed that sugar production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is estimated to decline by 6.6 percent during the current fiscal year (2011-12), it is learnt. Sources said the agriculture department has indicated that cultivation of sugarcane was 5.5 percent on less area this year compared to previous year.
Sugarcane was cultivated in 2010-11 on 100.8 thousands hectares, but the cultivation areas in 2011-12 declined to 95.8 thousand hectares. The provincial agriculture department has reportedly informed after the de-rationing of sugar, sugar mills under open trade policy are at liberty in disposal of their produce, therefore, under the prevailing circumstances it cannot be guaranteed as to how much quantity of the available stock will be supplied to local market by the sugar mills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The ECC was informed that available stock of 89, 426 tons in sugar mills would be sufficient only for 45 days as the monthly consumption of sugar in the province stood at 60,000 tons.
According to provincial agriculture department, production of the sugar in the province will depend on the trend of supply of sugarcane to the sugar mills or its use for Gur production. However, based on the last year production ie 275,655 tons a shortfall of 444,943 tons is expected during 2011-12. The shortfall will go up due to estimated decline of 6.6 percent in production of sugar in the province in the current fiscal year. The ECC was also informed that sugar production in the province has increased from 192, 471 tons in 2009-10 to 275,655 tons in 2010-11 with cane sugar production increasing from 187, 831 tons to 262, 120 tons and beet sugar production from 4,640 tons to 13,535 tons.
The total sugar requirement in the province for 2011-12 would be 720,598 tons for 32,754,446 people. Sources said the provincial government stated that it would require 583,041 tons sugar for 26,501,855 population in the settled area and 103,457 tons for 4,702,591population in Fata. The province would also require 34,100 tons sugar to cater to the needs of 32,754,466 Afghan refugees. The provincial government has conveyed to the federal government that it would be facing a shortfall of 444,943 tons of sugar in 2011-12.