Introduction
Sugarcane is among leading cash crops of the world, and it grown in over
100 countries. Pakistan, India, Brazil, China and Thailand are major
producers of sugar cane. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sugar cane plays an
important role in uplifting the socioeconomic conditions of farmers.
Rapid growth and expansion of the sugar industry has contributed
significantly to the economic development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sugarcane is a big source of earning to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
government since the crop brings billions of rupees to the country in
terms of taxes and duties7. However, sugarcane farming
requires huge resources in terms of extensive labor and capital. It is
one of the leading constraints faced by many farmers, reducing their
production and earnings5.
In Pakistan, sugarcane is grown on nearly 1.2 million hectares providing
the raw material used by 90 sugar mills7. The
sugarcane industry is the second biggest agriculture –based industry
coming behind textiles industries 6. Data from the
Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and Ministry of National Food
Security and Research (MNFSR) projects that in 2018/2019 financial year,
sugarcane production will be 72 million tons, a decline of 12% from the
previous year7. The main provinces of sugar production
in Pakistan includes, Punjab accounting for 65%, Sindh 25%, and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa 10%. It is worth noting that in spite of the decline in
production, the demand for sugar is still high both locally and
internationally.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as stated is a key sugarcane growing region
in Pakistan. Farmers decide for sugarcane farming in autumn or spring,
though autumn planting offers better results owing to a longer growing
season. Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mainly plant their sugarcane
during spring and harvest between eight and ten months later. Sugarcane
yields per hectare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are relatively
low7. This is caused by water shortage, irregular
application fertilizer and pesticide and lack of high yielding sugarcane
varieties7. Below is data showing sugarcane production on Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa districts between in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.