Strong carryover-stocks plus estimates of surplus production this year have led the government to allow limited export of sugar.
But sugar millers want still more: subsidy on exports or lowering of cane support price, or enhancement of export limits.
Government officials say the demand for subsidy cannot be met because of fiscal constraints. Lowering support price for cane cannot merit a serious consideration. But they say the Economic Coordination Committee can decide on more exports once the 0.5m tonnes limit is exhausted by March 2015.
Officials in provincial agriculture departments say that cane crushing got delayed because the ECC took time to allow sugar exports.
However, a few mills in Sindh and Punjab have already begun cane crushing after amicably settling disputes with growers over stuck-up payments. A senior official of Sindh agriculture department confirmed that at least three mills, one each in Sakrand, Mitiari and Sanghar, have started operation.
He said that in addition to resolution of payment disputes, overlapping commercial interests of big growers and millers had also prompted timely cane crushing in these districts.
But a majority of sugarcane growers fear that most millers might continue delaying cane crushing till the time sugar prices rise further, inflicting farmers financial losses. Sugar prices have already started inching up in the wholesale markets on reports of exports.
