By Commerce Reporter
LAHORE: William Lee Burnquist, former Director of the Brazilian Sugarcane Research Institute (CTC), visited the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), North Zone office, Lahore on 9th December 2025. During his visit, he held an important meeting with the Chairman of the Sugarcane Research and Development Board (SRDB), Ch. Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, along with the CEO, board members, professors, PSMA office bearers, and prominent sugar mill owners from across the province.
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Dr. Burnquist briefed the audience on the current sugarcane scenario in Brazil—one of the world’s leading sugarcane-producing countries—and shared valuable insights based on global best practices. He highlighted potential solutions to key challenges faced by the farming community in Punjab, particularly issues related to crop productivity, climate stress, and sustainability. He stressed the importance of value addition in the sugarcane industry, especially through effective utilization of by‑products, and presented practical recommendations for strengthening true‑breeding programs in sugarcane.
He further assured full technical assistance to Pakistan’s sugarcane research institutes, offering support in modern breeding techniques, advanced crop management approaches, and technologies for converting sugarcane waste into value‑added commercial products.
Ch. Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, Chairman, SRDB expressed deep appreciation for Dr. Burnquist’s valuable suggestions, noting that his guidance will play a vital role in boosting sugarcane yield on a sustainable basis and in developing climate‑resilient sugarcane varieties that meet future challenges.
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