SUGAR Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona anticipates a nearly five percent increase in sugar production for this crop year at 1.837 million metric tons (MT), up from the initial 1.782 million MT.
"We are currently at 1.815 million tons of sugar produced and despite the low sugar producer per ton of cane (LKGTC), we attribute the production on the increase in sugarcane tonnage per hectare planted,” Azcona said in a statement.
He explained that the initial lower estimate considered the sugarcane's condition after the severe El Niño.
“We are ending on a positive note and we can attribute this to the effort of this administration to prioritize research through development and propagation of new Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) sugarcane varieties, improving soil condition, irrigation, and even changing the sugarcane cropping calendar to better suit the climate are now paying off,” he added.
Azcona said that the Visayas region accounts for the largest share of production at 71 percent. Negros Island contributes 63 percent of the total; Panay 6.3 percent; and the rest coming from the Cebu and Leyte plantations.
Mindanao is projected to produce almost 24 percent of the country’s total, while Luzon is expected to contribute nearly five percent.
“Fair farm gate prices encouraged farmers to risk replanting their El Niño damaged canes, using new SRA varieties as they were hopeful that prices would eventually make up for the very high cost of production,” Azcona said.
He noted that fair prices are also incentivizing new farmers to plant sugarcane.
"We hope next milling, we will get higher tonnage and most importantly, more sugar per ton of cane (LKGTC)," he added.
Currently, Mindanao has the highest average LKGTC at 1.74, while Negros averages 1.65, and Panay and Luzon stand at 1.54.
Azcona revealed that URC La Carlota Sugar Mill has concluded its milling season. Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) and URC SONEDCO are expected to close this week. (MAP)