Sugarcane is an important cash crop and is mainly grown for sugar production in the country. Sugarcane contribution in value-added agriculture and GDP is 3.4 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. Pakistan is the world’s fifth largest producer of sugarcane in terms of acreage and the 15th largest producer of sugar. Sugarcane is grown on approximately one million hectares and provides raw material for 84 sugar mills established in main sugarcane producing regions. The sugar industry is the country’s second largest agro-industry sector after textiles. Byproducts of the sugar industry are molasses, bagasse, filter mud and sugar wax. Sugar industry byproducts are helpful in producing other essential items for industries like alcohol, chip board, paper, confectionery, usage in chemicals, plastics, paints, synthetics, fiber, insecticides and detergents. Sugarcane production in the country has increased over time. The varieties grown in Pakistan are low is cane yield and sugar contents as compared to the varieties grown is tropical areas is the world.

Pulses

Pulses are the most important source of vegetable protein in Pakistan. They are cultivated on 7% of the total cropped area. Major pulses grown in the country are chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik), mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilezek), black gram or mash (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) and khesari (Lathyrus sativus L.).

The total area under major pulses crops in Pakistan is about 1.5m hectares. Among these, chickpea is the major winter food legume and mung is the major summer legume. Chickpea occupies 74% of the total pulses area with 75% contribution to the total production, whereas mung bean occupies 15% of total pulses area contributing 16% to the total pulses production. The mash and lentil, each cultivated on less than 3% of the total pulses area and each of them contributes 2-3% to the total pulses production.

To strengthen research and development activities at national level, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council has declared the following research institute as cooperative units for sugar and food legumes crops.

Sugar Crops

Sugar Crops Research Program, NARC, Islamabad
Sugar Crop Research Institute, Charsaddah Road, Mardan
Sugarcane Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad
Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam
Quaid-e-Awam Agricultural Research Institute, Larkana
ARI, Ratta Kulachi, D.I.Khan
National Sugar and Tropical Crops and Horticulture Research Institute, NSTHRI, Thatta
Pulses

Pulses Research Program, NARC, Islamabad
Pulses Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad
Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) Bhakkar
Quaid-e-Awam Agriculture Research Institute, Larkana
Agriculture Research Station (ARS), Karak
Deptt. Of Agriculture, Muzaffarabad, AJK.
Agriculture Research Institute, Sariab Road, Quetta
Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal
Nuclear Institute for Agriculture & Biology (NIAB) Faisalabad
Pulses Research Station, Sahowali, Sialkot
Nuclear Institute for Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam
Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar
Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) D.I.Khan