Sugarcane Crushing Season to Begin This Month

Cane crushing across Pakistan will begin on November 15, following a decision of the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB), Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said. The decision was reached after consultations with provincial governments, the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), cane commissioners, and officials from the ministries of industries, production and commerce. Preliminary estimates show sugarcane production for 2025-26 at about 85 million tonnes, slightly above last year’s 84 million tonnes. The cultivated area has also increased by nearly 1.7 percent to 1.213 million hectares. The meeting, chaired by the minister, was attended by a PSMA delegation led by Chaudhary Zaka Ashraf, along with provincial and federal officials. The ministry said the start date was fixed to avoid delays that typically disadvantage growers, particularly in receiving timely payments. Rana Tanveer cautioned that action would be taken against any mill that does not begin operations on schedule. He said that clearing dues to farmers remains a priority and that the government intends to prevent any form of exploitation. Timely crushing, he added, will support growers and help ensure an early and stable supply of sugar in the market.