PESHAWAR: For generations, farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa relied on the rhythmic cycle of sugarcane and beet harvests. Their fields stretched across fertile plains, feeding local sugar mills and sustaining rural economies. But today, those same fields tell a different story—one of scarcity, struggle, and an uncertain future. The decline of sugarcane and beet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has left farmers facing with dwindling yields and rising costs.
The province, once a significant producer of sugarcane and beet, is witnessing an alarming decline in both crops. Farmers, mill owners, and agricultural experts point to a combination of water shortages, shifting climate patterns, and inconsistent policies as the driving forces behind this crisis. The impact is visible not only in the fields but also in sugar prices, which continue to climb as supply dwindles.
The decline of sugarcane and beet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is reshaping the agricultural landscape, with many questioning the future of these once-thriving crops.
A shrinking harvest
Mardan, Charsadda, and Peshawar once boasted over 30,000 acres of sugar and beet cultivation. The crop, known for its relatively short growing cycle of seven months with six to eight irrigation cycles, was vital to both the sugar industry and livestock farming. But this year, farmers say the fields are nearly empty. The numbers paint a bleak picture—an 80% drop in production, reducing the total yield to just 20,000 tons. “We used to rely on beet not just for sugar production but also for feeding our animals,” says Isa Kha, a farmer from Charsadda. “Now, we’re left with nothing. The water isn’t there, and neither is the support.”
Sugarcane farmers tell a similar tale. Fields that once produced 500,000 tons of cane annually in districts like Nowshera, Charsadda, and Mardan are now expected to yield less than half that amount. The 60% drop means a production estimate of just 200,000 tons this year. The decline of sugarcane and beet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also impacting sugar mills, which struggle to operate at capacity, while local markets feel the squeeze.
The Deeper Crisis
Agricultural experts warn that the crisis is not just about declining yields—it’s about survival. With water becoming increasingly scarce, sugarcane’s high demand for irrigation has made it a risky crop. Beet, they argue, could be a viable alternative, requiring fewer resources and yielding between 1,200 to 1,600 maunds per acre in just six months. But without consistent policies and investment in sustainable agriculture, even this option remains uncertain. “The problem is that there’s no long-term strategy,” says Dr. Tariq Khan, an agricultural expert. “Farmers are left to face these challenges on their own, and many are abandoning these crops altogether.”
The Future of Farming
As the decline of sugarcane and beet continues, the broader impact on the province’s agricultural economy becomes impossible to ignore. Farmers struggle to recover losses, sugar prices continue to rise, and the once-thriving industry faces a precarious future. Without urgent intervention—better irrigation solutions, climate adaptation strategies, and policy stability—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s sugar industry may become a thing of the past.
For now, the farmers wait, watching their land dry up, hoping for a change that may not come in time.
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