Sugar production climbs
Sugar production for the 2023-2024 crop year in the Philippines has exceeded expectations, reaching 1.86 million metric tons as of April 14, a 3.57 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA). PSMA urges caution in sugar imports following Administrative Order 20, emphasizing the need for a transparent and need-based import program. Despite challenges like El Niño, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) remains optimistic, citing improved harvest cycles and increased planting areas. However, concerns linger about the impact of AO 20 on food security and local production, as highlighted by the Sugar Council.
As harvest season nears its end, sugar production for crop year 2023 to 2024 has reached 1.86 million metric tons (MT) as of April 14, breaching by 3.57 percent the 1.79 million MT actual production last crop year, according to the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA).
PSMA said with this, government should be more cautious in allowing sugar imports following the issuance of Administrative Order (AO) 20 that streamlines administrative procedures and policies and eliminate non-tariff barriers to importing agricultural products.
Terence Uygongco, PSMA president, in a statement, said current sugar production has also surpassed the 1.85 million MT production estimate of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for the current crop year.
“Higher production helps allay uncertainties in the supply of sugar in the country.
Consistently, even prior to AO 20, the PSMA has supported the import programs of government through the SRA, when it is determined that our country’s supply is not sufficient to meet demand,” Uygongco said.
“All we ask is that the volume to be imported is the deficiency in production including buffer stocks for contingencies and scheduled arrival of imports so as not to coincide with sugar milling. With AO 20, a more predictable, simplified, transparent and need-based import program is ordered to be carried out by SRA subject to laws and regulations including its mandate,” Uygongco added.
Pablo Azcona, SRA administrator, said in a separate statement moving the harvest cycle to September 1 from last year’s August to improve yield “has proven its worth.”
Azcona said SRA will continue to push for the original October 1 start of milling to further improve sugarcane quality.
“Despite the loss of area in Batangas, we recorded a 3,000-hectare increase in planted area, mainly because of the very good farm gate prices from past year’s crop, which encouraged more farmers to plant sugarcane,” Azcona added.
SRA also said since El Niño only hit the tailend of the harvestable cane, its negative effects were countered by the increase in planted area.
“El Niño (that) hit from November 2023 to present has greatly damaged the planted cane for the October 2024 harvest. In Batangas, south Negros, and Mindanao, the October 2024 harvestable cane is suffering. We are hoping for the rains to come soon so that the 2024 to 2025 season will be as good as well,” Azcona said.
In another statement, the Sugar Council said while it agrees there is a need to reduce red tape and further streamline importation procedures to help stabilize prices of basic necessities, AO 20 without “appropriate safety nets and effective competitiveness enhancement measures” cannot “ensure food security, maintain sufficient supply of agricultural products in the domestic market and improve local production.”
Source Link : https://malaya.com.ph/news_business/sugar-production-climbs/
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