Bacolod City – The sugar output recorded by the Sugar Regulatory Administration in the first three weeks of milling period, which started September on 15, at 5,645 tons, is a drop of 96 percent compared to the 134,780 million metric tons produced in the same period last year.
In a press briefing, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Azcona noted that a lot of mills and organizations claimed that they were ready to mill. However, when it started, Azcona said very little sugarcane went into the mills, as farmers were not yet ready to mill, claiming that their sugarcane is still growing, and they expect more yield if they delay harvest a little bit.
With the development, Azcona said he expects a delay in the peak of the milling season, as most big farmers are expected to start milling by October 15.
Even the sugarcane yield lowered by 15 percent, which Azcona attributed to the El Niño phenomenon.
He, however, assured that sugar supply and market retail prices remained stable.
Sugar prices were also pegged at between P2,650 to P2,791 per 50 kilo bag, Azcona further said.
While SRA did not want to import refined sugar, Azcona said they were forced to do so after the mills and refiners did not commit a supply of refined sugar.
In previous months, the SRA announced the importation of 240,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar to maintain its buffer stock and ensure a stable retail price in local markets.
Azcona said the imported refined sugar has already started to come in. By the time local refiners start refining, probably by December, the importation should be already completed.
Assisted by David Andrew Sanson, the planter’s representative SRA board member, Azcona recently distributed 13 farm tractors and startup capital of P1,950,00 for each of the 13 block farms in Negros Occidental.
As of this time, SRA has organized 261 block farms all over the country, tilling 10,600 hectares of land, who availed of P1.4 billion assistance under the SIDA (Sugarcane Industry Development Act) funds. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star)