Wednesday, February 06, 2008 Coscolluela urges sugar planters to import fertilizer By Karl G. Ombion
TO STAVE off the negative effects of rising costs of fertilizers in the domestic market and possible repeat of 2003 scenario, sugar planters and producers are urged to engage in direct importation of fertilizers.
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Lito Coscolluela, in an interview with Sun.Star Bacolod, noted the sentiments of various sugar planters over the rising cost of fertilizers since December.
He clarified however that the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is not the agency concerned with monitoring and regulating prices of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.
"To help the sugar producers cope with fluctuating prices of sugar, fertilizers and other farm inputs, the SRA and even the Philippine Sugar Corp (Philsucor) offer a number of alternatives, one of which is financing direct importation of fertilizers," Coscolluela said.
Coscolluela said the scheme is simple; "we make agreements with sugar planters and producers cooperatives as to their needs and the price; the cooperatives then distribute directly to the sugar planters with no interest and on a loan basis."
Coscolluela also said this scheme gives the planters a much cheaper price for fertilizers because we buy it directly from international importers.
In addition, Coscolluela stressed, the scheme helps the planters fight local cartels, if there's any at all.
Earlier, reports gathered by Sun.Star Bacolod show that the most preferred variety 1846 now costs P1,800 a bag from P 1,300 the past two months.
Due to this hike, most planters prefer to take the much cheaper triple 14 that cost P1,020 only, and the urea which is P900 only.
Sugar planter Phillip Khalid of Talisay-Silay planters association lauded the support of the SRA, and also urged other planters cooperatives to take the offer.
"We have no choice, but to take this and develop other alternative schemes, otherwise it may not be worthwhile to continue producing sugar," he said.
Sun.Star Bacolod learned that more sugar cooperatives in southern Negros are taking the advise of SRA of making arrangement for direct importation and marketing of fertilizers and other farm inputs.
