Continuing sugar blues

Pakistan is the 7th largest producer of sweetener in the world, and sugarcane is the country’s second most important cash crop after cotton. The country produced 7.8 million tonnes of sugar in the crop year 2021-22 (the highest-ever volume). Its per hectare cane yield is 46 tonnes, around 14 tonnes less than the world average of 60 tonnes. Sugar output in the country declined year-on-year from 2016-17 to 2019-20. However, the next two consecutive seasons saw an increase in the output because of a somewhat better yield and a significant increase in the crop acreage, coupled with a surge in the minimum sales price and a more empowered cane commissioner in Punjab, ensuring full and timely payments to the growers. This led to sugar production of 2m tonnes more than expected in 2021-22.