Pakistan cane farmers seek PKR 700 per 40 kg, threaten November protests
Representative image: PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay
Pakistani cane farmers demand PKR 700 per 40 kg and crushing by November 1, 2026, threatening protests; no official price set yet.
What Happened
Sugarcane farmers in Pakistan are threatening protests from November 1, 2026 unless the government sets a higher price for their crop before the new crushing season. Farmer groups held events on October 18 and repeated their demand on October 19, asking for a support price of 700 Pakistani rupees per 40 kg (one maund) of cane and for sugar mills to start crushing by November 1. Khalid Mahmood Khokhar of the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad said farmers would protest from November 1 if they did not receive fair prices, and said cane production is higher this year. As of October 20, no official cane price or crushing date for 2026-27 had been announced.
Key Facts
- Demand: a support price of PKR 700 per 40 kg of sugarcane, and crushing to begin by November 1, 2026.
- The Pakistan Kisan Rabita Committee, an alliance of farmer groups, called nationwide protests for October 18 over the cane price.
- Pakistan Kissan Ittehad leader Khalid Mahmood Khokhar warned of protests from November 1 if prices were not fair, and said production is higher this season.
- Earlier, in September, Kissan Ittehad's Khalid Hussain Bath had asked for PKR 650 per 40 kg and warned that farmers would refuse to supply mills.
- In Sindh, the Sindh Abadgar Ittehad has also sought PKR 650 per 40 kg for cane, along with timely opening of mills and a wheat price of PKR 5,500 per 40 kg.
- No official 2026-27 cane price or crushing date had been announced by October 20.
Why It Matters
The fight in Pakistan follows a pattern familiar across South Asia: cane growers want a guaranteed price fixed before harvest, while mills want to start crushing on their own terms and pay what the sugar market allows. When the price is not announced in time, or mills open late, growers who need cash for the next crop are left waiting, with little say over the rate they finally get.
The farmers' groups are not united on the number. Some ask for PKR 650 per 40 kg, others for PKR 700. That split weakens their bargaining position, but the common thread is the same: a fixed, early price and a firm date for mills to begin crushing. The claim that production is higher this year cuts both ways. A bigger crop means more income if prices hold, but it also gives mills a reason to resist a higher rate, since sugar supply will be ample.
For Indian readers, the dispute mirrors what is happening at home this week. In north Karnataka, cane growers have been protesting over prices and the timing of crushing, and the state's Chief Minister has written to the Prime Minister on the issue. In both countries, the question is who carries the risk when the sugar market and the harvest calendar do not line up: the farmer, the mill or the government.
| Group | Demand |
|---|---|
| Pakistan Kisan Rabita Committee | PKR 700 per 40 kg; protests called for October 18 |
| Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (Khokhar) | Fair price, crushing by November 1; protests from November 1 if not met |
| Kissan Ittehad (Bath, September) | PKR 650 per 40 kg |
| Sindh Abadgar Ittehad | PKR 650 per 40 kg; timely mill opening |
Impact
Short-term: If no price is set before November 1, protests outside mills and refusals to supply cane are possible, which could delay crushing and raise costs for farmers holding standing cane.
Long-term: A repeated cycle of late prices and late crushing hurts farmers' incomes and may push some to shift to other crops, affecting Pakistan's sugar output.
Who is affected: Pakistani sugarcane farmers, sugar mills and sugar consumers in Pakistan.
Key Takeaway
Pakistan's cane farmers want PKR 700 per 40 kg and crushing by November 1, and threaten protests from that date if the government does not act.
Questions and Answers
What price are Pakistan's sugarcane farmers demanding?
The latest demand from farmer groups is PKR 700 per 40 kg of cane, with crushing to start by November 1, 2026. Some groups earlier asked for PKR 650 per 40 kg.
When will the protests start?
Pakistan Kissan Ittehad leader Khalid Mahmood Khokhar said farmers would protest from November 1 if they did not receive fair prices. An alliance of groups also called protests for October 18.
Has Pakistan's government announced the 2026-27 cane price?
Not as of October 20, 2026. No official cane price or crushing start date had been announced.
Why does this matter for India?
Indian cane growers are raising similar demands on price and the timing of crushing, as the protests in north Karnataka this week show, so the dispute offers a comparison for Indian farmers and mills.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
