Pakistan: Punjab’s farmers have started planting the spring sugarcane crop within the recommended February–March window, following the crushing of over 70 percent of the current crop by 41 sugar mills in the province, Independent News Pakistan reported.
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Dr. Kashif Munir, Director of the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI) in Faisalabad, said that spring sowing accounts for nearly 70 percent of Punjab’s total sugarcane cultivation. In comparison, September planting contributes only 10–15 percent, while the remaining crop comes from ratoon cultivation — the regrowth of sugarcane from underground stubble left after harvesting the previous crop.
For this spring season, recommended varieties include CPF-253, CP-77-400, HSF-240, and CPF-237, while newly approved varieties such as FDP-254, S2016, and S-284 are also available. Dr. Munir noted that prevailing weather conditions are favourable for sowing.
However, some farmers pointed out that sugar mills prefer September-planted sugarcane, which matures over 15 months and yields higher sucrose recovery. Ebadur Rehman Khan, Director of Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP), said that while mills benefit from September crops, farmers often incur losses because autumn sowing limits them to fewer cropping cycles. He urged growers to prioritize their economic interests over mill preferences.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s sugar industry has shown notable improvement during the current crushing season. Cane Commissioner Punjab, Amjad Hafeez, reported that mills have so far crushed 30.83 million tons of sugarcane, producing 2.93 million tons of sugar — up from 28.60 million tons crushed and 2.59 million tons of sugar produced last year. The average recovery rate has also risen to 9.69 percent, compared to 9.18 percent in the previous season.
Carry-forward sugar stocks have dropped sharply to 0.11 million tons from 0.60 million tons last year, bringing total sugar availability in the province to 3.04 million tons. Of this, 1.20 million tons have been sold, leaving a closing balance of 1.83 million tons.
The provincial average sugarcane price stands at Rs460 per 40 kg, with a minimum of Rs400 per 40 kg in Kot Addu and Sargodha, and a maximum of Rs580 per 40 kg in Mianwali. With increased availability, ex-mill sugar prices currently range between Rs142 and Rs146 per kg, while retail prices are between Rs145 and Rs160 per kg, according to the Punjab Bureau of Statistics (February 2, 2026).
Regarding payments to farmers, sugar mills have purchased sugarcane worth Rs342.53 billion in the 2025–26 season, of which Rs317.46 billion has already been paid. The outstanding balance of Rs25.08 billion represents a payment clearance rate of 92.68 percent, the cane commissioner added.
