HYDERABAD: The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) president Abdul Majeed Mizamani on Monday expressed concerns over arrears of cane growers that mounted to Rs 8.63 billion as only 6 out of the total 31 mill owners cleared their outstanding debts. Reportedly, the meeting held by SAB observed that two months have passed since owners closed sugarcane mills at the end of sugarcane’s season. However, the pending amount could not be cleared, plunging cane farmers into financial crisis, and halting further cultivation. The meeting further recalled that the apex court had ordered the mills owners to buy sugarcane at Rs 160 per 40 kilos from the cane growers; instead they were forced to sell sugarcane at Rs 130 per 40 kilos. “Hundreds of cane growers had lodged complaints with the Sindh’s cane commissioner, and approached the caretaker minister of agriculture Khair Muhammad Junejo, but to no avail,” the meeting further observed. Meanwhile, the growers complained about water scarcity, particularly in Badin and Thatta. “Under such circumstances, there seems no possibility of cultivation of Rabi season crops,” the members of SAB claimed. Importantly, the SAB members demanded the higher authorities to devise a water supply plan, amid fewer rainfalls and acute water shortage in lower Sindh, for the cultivation of seasonal crops. “Otherwise, the ongoing situation will render Sindh’s land infertile,” SAB warned. Published in Daily Times, July 10th 2018.