Punjab Unveils Sugarcane Variety FDP-254 for Farmers
Punjab’s agricultural scientists have developed a new sugarcane variety FDP-254, which can produce more than 2,000 maunds per acre with a sugar recovery rate of up to 12.77 per cent.
The development was highlighted at a meeting held at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) in Faisalabad, to review and approve the Sugarcane Production Plan 2026-27.
Sugarcane is one of Punjab’s most important cash crops, and the new variety arrives as growers prepare for the crushing season, which begins in mid-November. If it performs in farmers’ fields as it has in trials, it could lift growers’ incomes and improve supplies for mills.
Sugarcane variety FDP-254: what the trials showed
Chairing the meeting, Director Agriculture Farm Training Punjab Dr Muhammad Tariq said sugarcane was an important cash crop, and raising its per-acre yield was essential for agricultural development.
He said Punjab’s average sugarcane yield stood at 745 maunds per acre, compared with a reported global average of 710 maunds. The province already grows more cane per acre than the world average, yet the gap to the new variety’s potential shows how much room for improvement remains.
He stressed the need to ensure the timely availability of quality seed of approved varieties, and to transfer modern production technologies to farmers. He urged growers to adopt recommended practices, including improved varieties, timely sowing, balanced fertiliser, need-based irrigation, and control of weeds, diseases and insect pests.
Chief Scientist at the Sugarcane Research Institute, AARI, Dr Muhammad Kashif Munir said FDP-254 had demonstrated the potential to produce more than 2,000 maunds per acre, with sugar recovery reaching 12.77 per cent. He said the institute’s varieties were grown on about 90 per cent of Pakistan’s sugarcane area.
Why the recovery rate matters
The recovery rate is the share of sugar extracted from each tonne of cane, and it decides how much sugar a mill can make from the crop it buys. A higher rate means more sugar from the same cane, which helps mills pay growers on time.
A recovery rate of 12.77 per cent is a strong result, and for growers the higher yield matters just as much: more than 2,000 maunds per acre would be nearly three times the provincial average of 745 maunds. That figure is a trial result, not a promise for every field.
Sugarcane crushing begins in mid-November, so the plan approved at the Faisalabad meeting sets the terms for the season ahead.
Farming in a tight year
The new variety comes in a year when farm economics have been under strain. Punjab has fixed the wheat support price at Rs4,500 a maund, a step meant to protect growers’ incomes. Weather has also been unkind: Sindh recorded a 50.8 per cent monsoon rainfall deficit in 2026, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department data.
For farming families, the cost of living has risen too. A survey found that 89 per cent of Peshawar families were borrowing for daily expenses. Against that backdrop, a variety that promises more cane per acre and more sugar per tonne is welcome news, if the seed reaches farmers in time and at a fair price.
That is the test for the plan approved in Faisalabad. The institute’s varieties already cover about 90 per cent of the country’s cane area, so its advice carries weight. But growers will judge FDP-254 by what it yields in their own fields.
What happens next
The Sugarcane Production Plan 2026-27 now sets the course for the season. The agriculture department will need to make quality seed of approved varieties available on time, and to carry the recommended practices to growers.
Farmers will watch the crushing season closely. If FDP-254 delivers on its trial promise, it could become the variety of choice.
Tribune reported the development on Friday.
Frequently asked questions
What is FDP-254?
FDP-254 is a new sugarcane variety developed by Punjab’s scientists at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute in Faisalabad.
How much can FDP-254 yield?
The variety can produce more than 2,000 maunds per acre, compared with Punjab’s average of 745 maunds.
What is its sugar recovery rate?
FDP-254 can achieve a sugar recovery rate of up to 12.77 per cent.
Why does the recovery rate matter?
A higher recovery rate means mills get more sugar from the same cane, which helps them pay growers on time and keeps the sugar industry viable.
Where was the variety announced?
The development was highlighted at a meeting at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute in Faisalabad, held to approve the Sugarcane Production Plan 2026-27.
