Karachi, Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar has set the minimum price for sugarcane at Rs425 per 40 kilograms for the 2023-24 crop. This decision follows detailed discussions and analysis of the cost of production by the Agriculture department.

According to Sindh CM House, the decision was made in a meeting at the CM House, attended by Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam, Advocate General Sindh Hassan Akbar, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Secretary Agriculture Aijaz Shah, Secretary Food Nasir Abbas, and other officials. Secretary Agriculture Aijaz Shah briefed the Chief Minister on the cultivation costs, noting that the per-acre cost is Rs244,984, with an average yield of 650 maunds, equating to Rs377 per 40kg. Factoring in a 12.7 percent profit margin, the price was set at Rs425.

The meeting also discussed the overall structure and strategy of the Agriculture department. The department, consisting of 12 wings including Extension, Research, and Agriculture Management, was reviewed for its effectiveness. The Chief Minister directed an evaluation of each wing’s performance and the potential winding up of those that have lost their utility.

Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam indicated that a meeting he chaired had initially worked out the minimum price at Rs425, which could increase to Rs434 per 40 kg with a 15% profit margin as demanded by agriculturists. The Chief Minister approved the minimum price of Rs425 per 40 kg and instructed that the price be officially sanctioned through cabinet circulation.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the performance of the Agriculture department’s research wing, which has reportedly not introduced any new rice or wheat varieties. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for modernization in agriculture research and improvement in water management, among other strategies, to enhance productivity and address poverty. He instructed the Chief Secretary to review the department’s setup and consider merging or winding up ineffective wings.