CHARSADDA: 

                                             A study was conducted during 2008 to make economic analysis of sugarcane crop in district Charsadda. The study was based on primary data collected from randomly selected five villages namely Dargai, Mani Khela, Sapula Khile, Qalat Naseer and Khule. The data were collected through structured questionnaire using a sample size of 50 farmers, allocating proportionally to these villages. The results reveled that the socio-economic variables like capital employment, labor employment, marketing, credit and financing and sources of income were moreclosely related with sugarcane production. The major economic practices were;preparation of land, water management, weed control, insecticides and making of black sugar (Gur). Main sugarcane varieties grown were 77/400,44,Mardan-92, 48, 310 and 722082. Variety 77/400 was observed as the most profitable variety. The average per acre cost was calculated asRs. 35450 for all varieties. The major cost elements were;land rent, labor input, seed, manure, irrigation, land preparation, fertilizer, hand weeding and making of black sugar (Gur). The net revenue of variety-77/400, 44, Mardan-92, 48, 310 and 722082 were observed as Rs. 54550, 48550, 48550, 45550, 48550 and 45550, respectively. Sugarcane crop was characterized by increasing returns to scale. It is recommended that modern techniques should be adopted for making Gur. Awareness among sugarcane growers about improved varieties should be created.

This study was undertaken in Charsadda and Mardan districts during 2002-03 to analyse policy structure of sugarcane production, to know whether the policy incentives have favoured or discriminated against the sugarcane activity. Another major objective of the study was to determine whether Pakistan qualifies for the export of sugarcane/sugar or should produce sugar as import substitution strategy to ensure food security. Nominal Protection Co-efficient (NPC) and Effective Protection Co-efficient (EPC), the indicators of policy effects, show that sugarcane production is encouraged by policy incentives as export promotion,

Sugar Cane

 while it is discouraged as import substitution strategy. This implies that the current sets of sectoral and macroeconomics policies are not consistent with the national policy objectives of agricultural development. The results of PAM analysis suggest that sugarcane could be nationally produced as an import substitution strategy for self-sufficiency, while its production should be discouraged for export purpose. The analysis further revealed that land rent was the major cost item of cane production, indicating its scarcity and high opportunity cost. The study recommends introduction and on-farm trial of improved cane varieties with high sucrose content, and then their dissemination to farmers at lowest possible price. This study further recommends that Pakistan's top management and policy makers should make serious efforts to make both sectoral and macroeconomic policies consistent with national goals of agricultural development, trade and food security .