It would be observed that sugarcane achieves maturity in December and improvement in its sugar content into April. It is apparent that in normal crop year commencement of sugarcane crushing campaign shall not be prior to mid-November.

Loss of high magnitude in sugar recovery occurs by post harvest and crushing sequence of sugarcane. This is attributable to the absence of contractual arrangements between the mills and the growers. Such loss is estimated about 1% of the sugarcane crushing. Assignment of sugarcane areas to the mills is a standard practice being followed for cogent reasons. Policies oriented to productivity are in the interest of all the stakeholders which can be secured by a system of sugarcane supply based on written contracts. Bottlenecks, if any, in its implementation can be overcome with a will, goodwill and experience. Improvement in sugar recovery will contribute to additional revenues to all stakeholders, besides ending exploitation of the situation by the middlemen/commission agents.

In pleading for early start of crushing season, usually the farmers assert about their compulsion for clearing part of the land under sugarcane crop for sowing wheat in November. This has been much and often articulated, though lacks realism. The reason usually given for an early start is to vacate land for planting of wheat and financial needs. Both these reasons lack substance. Cropping intensity stipulation leaves enough fallow land during Kharif which is prepared for planting of wheat. Practically, sugarcane does not compete with wheat for land and water. The area harvested in October and November by the end of wheat sowing period is too small to have a bearing on wheat area, The financial advantages of commencement of the season in proper time are of a magnitude that outweight other small considerations and, therefore, must receive attention of the Sindh government.

Sugarcane supply in Sindh got slashed by a sizeable 28% and sugar production fell by hefty 26.36%. Some recoup in it was by recovery improved to 9.18 (8.96) percent. Though better, it trailed behind the real potential. Sindh's supportive climatic character ought to give yield a minimum of 80 tons and recovery of 10.5 percent. This goal is achievable in mid-term through supervised cultivation method, adequate input mix, timely and proper care of the crop.

Lack of supervised sugarcane crop culture, absence of varietal development pursuit and like bedevelling factors have led to a considerable deterioration in the quantity of sugarcane. This has adversely affected yields and recoveries. Cyclone that swept Badin and Thatta districts of Sindh during 1999 almost uprooted the then existing sugarcane crop in these districts. Combined result of such odds was a sharp reduction to below 11 million tons of sugarcane being available to the sugar industry of Sindh, as against the effective crushing capacity of 24 million tons. As a result, operating efficiency dipped to 46.13%. It was the record lowest touched in Sindh. Drastically low level.. of working threw the sugar industry of Sindh in disarray.

Low level of operating efficiency has been a major stumbling block in opening up new vistas of diversification by the sugar industry, potentials of which are rated high. Efforts at the PSMA level to shore up the economic vitals have not been met with expected optimism. Nonetheless, efforts tend to be our responsibility and these shall remain persistent to achieve ends.

Cost of production can be brought down reasonably with higher utilisation of the plant capacities. Operational efficiency in Sindh has slid from 75% in 1992-93 to 46% in 1999-2000. Capacity utilisation squarely rests on sugarcane supplies which dropped by 28%. There is little likelihood of its improvement during the next crushing season if not more. Drop in the area and yield of sugarcane accentuated by severe limitation of irrigation water encountered in the previous year. Dependence on large increase in area to meet sugarcane requirements is not judicious by several reasons, including the limitation of irrigation water supply which is becoming more difficult. This situation demands dynamic rather than conventional Research and Development which can be had through active participation of the private sector. Equally important for positive results is toning up on-farm water management, backed by improvement in irrigation infrastructure to eliminate wastage. A number of sugar units are located in the non-perennial water supply areas and shortage of irrigation water is causing dislocation. Changes in methods of irrigation through technology developed indigenously, to have it cost effective must receive urgent attention.

Large economic potential of sugar industry in growth of manufacturing sector and contribution of sugarcane in growth of commodity producing sector in the national economy can be fully realised by adopting supportive policy framework. Price linkage of raw material with end product would have productivity orientation input. In this regard, improvement needed in the sugar economy be evolved and implemented.