Production of bumper sugarcane crop and strict check on the smuggling of Gur to neighbouring Afghanistan helped boom crushing and production of sugar production in Peshawar Valley. Gur Ghanis have emerged as tough competitors of sugar mills in the best quality sugarcane producing area of the valley.
The growers preferred to supply their crop to Gur Ghanis, which has a good market not only in Fata, but also in neighbouring Afghanistan. But, this year, check on Ghr smuggling and offers of competitive prices by sugar mills changed the situation and growers supplied their crop to the mills.
Talking to Business Recorder, Saleem Ghurmani, an official of Premier Sugar Mills Mardan confirmed that supply of sugarcane to mills has remained better than last several years. He said that in the beginning the growers were reluctant in supply to get good price for their commodity. However, supply has improved with the passage of time. He said that the mills, instead of official price of Rs 150 for 40kilogram crop, are offering higher prices for better quality commodity. He said that the mills of Peshawar and Mardan are offering Rs 165 for the commodity. Ghurmani said that severe chill and frost in the area is badly affecting sugar production and mills are extracting less sugar than their expectations from the crop. He said that if the situation remains so for more time it will deteriorate the sugar production.
Talih Mand Khan, an official of Khazana Sugar Mills, Peshawar, the second operational sugar mill in the valley said that sugarcane supply to the mills had improved a lot. He said that in the beginning of the season the mills were running in intervals, but now regular crushing is going in them. He said that as compared to other parts of the country where the price of sugarcane is Rs 125 to Rs 130 per 40 kilograms, sugar mills of the valley are buying the commodity at Rs 165.
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