Islamabad: Punjab farmers have begun the spring sugarcane planting season after more than 70 percent of the current crop was processed by 41 sugar mills across the province. The recommended planting window runs through February and March, and this season’s spring sowing is expected to account for nearly 70 percent of total sugarcane cultivation in Punjab, according to Dr. Kashif Munir, Director of the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI) in Faisalabad, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
“September-sown sugarcane contributes only 10 to 15 percent of production, while the remaining crop comes from ratoon cultivation, where new shoots grow from the stubble of the previous harvest,” Dr. Munir explained. He added that the recommended varieties for spring cultivation this year include CPF-253, CP-77-400, HSF-240, and CPF-237, alongside newly approved varieties FDP-254, S2016, and S-284. Farmers are being supported by favourable weather conditions for the season.
Despite the spring crop’s potential, sugar mills continue to favour September planting, which matures over 15 months and yields higher sucrose content. Ebadur Rehman Khan, Director of Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP), said that while autumn-grown sugarcane benefits mills, it limits opportunities for farmers, who lose out on up to three additional cropping cycles.
The current crushing season has shown strong performance in Punjab. Cane Commissioner Amjad Hafeez reported that mills have processed 30.83 million tons of sugarcane, producing 2.93 million tons of sugar, marking an improvement from last year’s 28.60 million tons of cane and 2.59 million tons of sugar. The average recovery rate has risen to 9.69 percent from 9.18 percent in the previous season.
Hafeez noted that carry-forward sugar stocks have fallen sharply to 0.11 million tons, down from 0.60 million tons last year, leaving total sugar availability in the province at 3.04 million tons. Of this, 1.20 million tons have already been sold, leaving a closing balance of 1.83 million tons.
Sugarcane prices for growers currently average Rs 460 per 40 kg, with the lowest rates of Rs 400 per 40 kg reported in Kot Addu and Sargodha, and the highest of Rs 580 per 40 kg in Mianwali. Ex-mill sugar prices range from Rs 142 to Rs 146 per kilogram, while retail prices vary between Rs 145 and Rs 160 per kg. The Punjab Bureau of Statistics reports province-wide sugar prices ranging from Rs 145 to Rs 170 per kg.
Regarding payments to growers, Hafeez said sugar mills have purchased sugarcane worth Rs 342.53 billion during the 2025-26 season, of which Rs 317.46 billion has already been paid. The remaining balance of Rs 25.08 billion reflects a payment clearance rate of 92.68 percent.[td_smart_list_end]
