Brief History

Sugarcane is an important cash crop of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and occupies an area of 104000 hectares. It feeds the 7 sugar mills of the province as well as the cottage industry of gur. Besides that, it also cater for industries like paper and chip board making and provides a gainful employment to the people of the area.

However, climatic conditions of the province are not very conducive to sugarcane growing. The short growing period, occurring of frost in the winter and lack of tolerant varieties are shortcomings in the way of getting higher sugarcane yeids.

Keeping this in mind, Sugar Crops Research Institute (SCRI) was established in Mardan in 1952 as a research station. In 1981, it was upgraded to the status of institute. Later on, sugar beet was also added as a research commodity at the institute.

The mandate of SCRI includes research and development activities on sugarcane and sugar beet. More specifically, the development of high yielding, disease resistance, high quality varieties of sugarcane and sugar beet.

Mandate of SCRI:

• Development of high yielding, best quality sugarcane, sugarbeet varieties which are adaptable in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Development of improved Production Technologies and inculcation of the same to the growers through Adaptive Research Program.
• Production of quality seed cane of approved commercial sugarcane varieties for quick replacement of old sugarcane varieties.
• Standardization of plant protection techniques for ensuring production of healthy sugarcane / sugar beet at the farmers' fields.