Experts pin hopes on modern sugarcane research to boost Pakistan’s exports

FAISALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Apr, 2026) Agricultural scientists and industry experts underscored the transformative potential of modern farming technologies in sugarcane cultivation and said that their adoption could significantly enhance crop yields, strengthen sugar production and drive export-led economic stability in Pakistan.

They were addressing the annual Sugarcane Research Program (2026-27) held at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) under the aegis of the Directorate of Agricultural Information Faisalabad.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Scientist, Sugarcane Research Institute AARI, Dr Kashif Muneer said that sugarcane research had the potential to strengthen the national economy. He added that Pakistan was benefiting from technical collaboration with countries including Brazil, the United States, Australia, Iran, Sri Lanka and the Philippines to improve sugarcane seed quality and research outcomes.

He informed that sugarcane was cultivated on approximately three million acres across the country, while Punjab had achieved record yields of up to 2,000 maunds per acre through modern varieties.

He said that the Sugarcane Research Institute AARI had introduced 28 improved sugarcane varieties, including CPF-248, CPF-249, CPF-252, CPF-253, CP-77-400, SPF-234 and SHF-242, which were being cultivated on more than 85 percent of the total acreage in Pakistan.

Dr Kashif Muneer further said that, on the directives of Chief Scientist AARI Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman, a team of agricultural experts had recently visited coastal districts of Sindh, including Badin, Gharo and Sakro, where healthy sugarcane plants were identified, enabling the procurement of high-quality seed worth millions of rupees free of cost.

Addressing the participants, Sugarcane Specialist Dr Muhammad Afzal described sugarcane as a key economic and industrial crop, serving as the Primary raw material for the sugar industry and contributing to the production of gur, shakkar, methanol, ethanol and vinegar.

He said that bagasse, the residue of sugarcane, was being utilized for manufacturing paper, cloth and chipboard as well as for electricity generation, while developed countries were increasingly using ethanol as a biofuel to reduce reliance on imported oil.

The agricultural experts advised farmers to adopt modern plantation methods, including sowing sugarcane in two rows with a four-foot distance. This technique, they said, could save 35 to 45 percent irrigation water and facilitate better weed control and balanced use of fertilizers.

A large number of scientists, industry representatives and progressive farmers attended the meeting. consultant Sugarcane Research & Development board Dr Asif Tanveer, CEO Sugarcane Research & Development Board Dr Shahid Afghan, Director Agricultural Information Faisalabad Dr Asif Ali, sugarcane expert Dr Naeem Ahmad, Chief Scientist Agronomy Research Institute Dr Naveed Akhtar, Chief Scientist Post-Harvest Research Institute Dr Abrar Ahmad, National Coordinator Sugarcane PARC Dr Sagheer Ahmad, Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan, Dr Abdul Majeed, Dr Muhammad Kamran, Shehzad Afzal, Abdul Shakoor, Dr Akhlaq Mudassar and Dr Syed Saqlain Hussain were also present.

Meanwhile, Director NSHTRI Thatta Dr Muhammad Chauhan and SRS Khanpur Taj Muhammad joined the session via Zoom.