The people of advanced countries of the world use
sugar as an important part of the diet for many years. The people of ancient times were not
aware of sugar and were not aware of sugarcane and other means of producing sugar. However
sugar was being sold in the markets of China in the mid of eighteen century. In the European
countries sugar was only found at the tables of the nobles and rich people.
Sugar is obtained from the plant of sugarcane and
in the beginning this plant was found in India and later on the Arab planted it in Egypt and
in North American countries, and it was taken to West Indians islands, Brazil and other
countries for cultivation.
PHYSICAL FACTORS:- For the growth of sugar cane following Physical conditions are wanted.
TEMPERATURE:-The sugarcane can
not be cultivated in sold areas. The areas where the temperature is below 40 degree F sugar cane
cannot be cultivated there. For the proper production of sugar cane it is necessary that
temperature may be warm. At the time of sowing and at the harvesting time lower temperature
is required. Usually temperature ranging from 65 degree F to 80 degree f is suitable for
its production.
RAINFALL:-For the production
of sugar cane sufficient quantity of rain and humidity is required and dry weather the
production and juice of sugarcane decreases. The areas having 40” to70” rainfall annually
are considered most suitable areas for the production of sugarcane but at the harvesting time
dry weather condition is necessary so that the juice of sugarcane may become thick.
SOIL:-To get good crop of
sugarcane, it is necessary to have fertile soil. The suitable soil for sugarcane is a field
having sufficient quantity of phosphorus. Beside this it should contain lime for better results.
ECONOMIC FACTORS:-Economic factors
plays an important role in the better cultivation of sugar cane. The following are the main economic
factors for the cultivation of sugar cane:
- CHEAP LABOUR
- USE OF GOOD QUALITY SEEDS
- MEANS OF TRANSPORT
- ARRANGMENT OF PROPER MARKET
- NEAR NESS TO MARKETS AND PORTS
KINDS OF SUGAR CANE
The following are the main kinds of sugar cane.
- Tropic
- Indian variety of sugarcane P.C.B 2878
The cultivation areas of sugar cane in Pakistan can be divided into three types.
AREAS HAVING ABUNDANT PRODUCTION:-
1. The areas of East and central of Punjab including Gujrat and to the North spreading up to the district of Rahim yar khan.
2. Central Southern areas of Sindh comprising districts of Nawabshah, Hydrabad and Badin.
3. Pashawas and Mardan districts in NWFP.
THE AREAS HAVING MODERATE PRODUCTION:- The
se areas are located in the sourroundings of those areas which are producing sugarcane in huge
quantity. And these areas include Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Muzafarghar, Leiah
in Punjab and Kharpur and Thatha in Sindh.
LESS PRODUCTIVE AREAS:- In the surrounding
areas of less proiducing sugarcane areas, these are located and these areas producing
sugarcane in less quantity these are in addition to Sailkot and Gujarnwala districts, Rajanpur,
dera Ghazi khan, Mianwali, Bakkar, and Khushab districts, whereas the district of Sukkur,
Sanghar, Tharparker and Dadu in Sindh are considered less producing areas of sugarcane.
| YEAR |
PRODUCTION(IN THOUSANDS) |
| 1996-97 |
43521.2 |
| 1997-98 |
50278.5 |
| 1998-99 |
47780.0 |
| 1999-2000 |
45904 |
| Percent increase |
3.9% |
The following graph shows the production of sugar cane in Pakistan.
The following map shows the production of wheat in Pakistan per hactors. The map shows that Punjab produces almost 50% of wheat of Pakistan.
