ARTICLE 4 #AgriEconomy

A special meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board was held under the co-chairmanship of Ishaq Dar (Deputy Prime Minister) and the Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, to review the sugar market situation, imported sugar stocks and the closure of the S-Track portal.

Sugar mill owners across Pakistan have raised strong objections against government policies, claiming that recent administrative decisions have triggered an unprecedented surge in sugar prices.

A total of 214 sugar mills across Maharashtra have applied to the Sugar Commissioner’s office in Pune for permission to commence sugar-cane crushing from November 1, the official start date for the 2025–26 crushing season.

The SAP rise is intended to benefit sugarcane farmers in UP by giving them higher assured price for their produce. This can boost their incomes. The increased cost of raw material (cane) squeezes margins, especially when sugar selling prices and ethanol procurement rates are not rising equivalently.

In a surprising turn for the agricultural sector, both corn and soybean have seen a bumper arrival across major mandis this week. Favorable weather conditions and higher-than-expected yields have led to record supplies, pushing prices to their lowest levels in recent months.

Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest sugar-producing state, is expected to record a 2% increase in sugar production this season, even as the area under sugarcane cultivation has slightly declined. 🚜According to industry officials, the rise in production is being driven by higher sugar recovery rates and improved farm productivity across major cane-growing districts such as Meerut, Saharanpur, and Muzaffarnagar.

Maize farmers across the country are facing one of the steepest price declines in recent years, raising alarms within the agricultural sector. According to farmer groups, the sudden crash in maize prices has left many producers unable to cover their basic production costs, pushing them toward financial distress.

India continues to strengthen its role in global rice markets. A strong procurement drive has supported export growth, helping rice shipments remain competitive even as global prices fluctuate.

🏭🤝As the Philippines continues to diversify its agricultural base, the cashew sector’s steady growth outlook underscores its potential to contribute to rural incomes, export earnings, and long-term food system resilience. 🌍🥜

Analysts expect rice exports to remain under pressure in the near term if prices continue to rise. However, they add that any easing in prices or improvement in supply conditions could help stabilize volumes later in the year.