LAHORE: Calling for an immediate agricultural emergency, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar lashed out at the government for its “total indifference” toward sugarcane growers, warning that farmers will burn their crops if a coherent policy and sugarcane crushing schedule are not announced at once. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that despite sugarcane cultivation expanding by 16pc compared to the last year, spanning over 2.45 million acres in Punjab alone, the authorities had failed to announce either a crushing season start date or a minimum support price. “The government was quick to declare dates for the Basant festival, yet it remains completely silent on the sugarcane crushing schedule and support price,” he lamented. He highlighted the mounting financial distress of the farming community, pointing out that while open-market wheat prices hovered around Rs5,500 per maund, sugarcane growers were denied even basic cost calculations. Based on current production expenses, Mr Khokhar stated, the fair minimum price for sugarcane stands at Rs700 per maund. “We do not beg for subsidies; we demand fair returns for our hard work,” he emphasised, noting that Pakistani farmers face higher input costs than growers anywhere else in the world. He added that essential inputs like urea were being openly sold at a black-market premium of Rs400 to Rs500 per bag. Decrying the lack of a long-term agricultural vision, Mr Khokhar regretted that a country once renowned for exporting cotton was now forced to import its entire requirement. He urged the higher authorities and policymakers to intervene immediately to end step-motherly treatment of the agrarian sector and save growers from complete financial ruin. — Staff Reporter