HOE, SOW, GROW. Farmers of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac hoe a subject earlier than sowing sugarcane. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
BACOLOD CITY — The Division of Agriculture has determined to delay its resolution on sugar importation till mid-2025 to have a clearer understanding of home provide.
The choice was reached throughout a gathering between Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Sugar Regulatory Authority Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, Sugar Board Member Dave Sanson, and Andre Corro on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Laurel mentioned there isn’t any instant want for extra imports because the home provide of uncooked and refined sugar stays steady and enough to satisfy projected wants.
“Given the present scenario, Administrator Azcona and I agreed {that a} resolution on sugar importation might be delayed till after Might, when the present harvest season ends,” he added.
Azcona defined on Sunday, Nov. 10 that the present harvest season began slowly, with whole cane quantity reaching solely a 3rd of the quantity harvested across the identical interval within the final crop yr.
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He attributed this to decrease sugar content material per ton of cane because of El Niño.
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“Our provide for each uncooked and refined sugar is steady and we’re simply starting our harvest season, so Secretary Laurel and I agree that there will probably be no sugar imports till after harvest someday in Might or June,” Azcona mentioned.
“Farmers needed to delay their harvests to permit the cane to mature additional and enhance sugar content material,” he added.
The extended dry spells introduced by El Niño resulted within the cane being physiologically immature, leading to a 16% decrease sugar content material per ton of cane, constraining sugar output regardless of a rise in planting areas.
Azcona mentioned SRA information present the realm planted to sugar cane this yr elevated barely to 389,461 hectares, up from 388,378 hectares the earlier crop yr.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture forecasts a 3.6% decline in Philippine uncooked sugar manufacturing for the present crop yr. The present crop yr ends in August subsequent yr.
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