SRA to conduct sugarcane and field sampling following Kanlaon eruption
BACOLOD City – The eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on June 3, producing a 5,000-meter plume, prompted the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to order soil and sugarcane sampling. SRA administrator Luis Azcona emphasized the need to assess soil acidity and sulfuric acid effects on sugarcane. Sampling will occur in La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, and La Carlota City. SRA allocated P2 million for mitigation and P500,000 for medical missions.
BACOLOD City – The eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island prompted the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to issue an order to conduct sampling on sugarcane and fields.
A phreatic or steam-driven eruption began around 6:51 p.m. on Monday night, June 3, producing a 5,000-meter plume.
SRA administrator Luis Azcona yesterday ordered the research and development arm of the agency to prioritize sampling of sugarcanes and fields.
He said they need information as to the acidity level of the soil as well as its effects on sugarcane already planted in areas where volcanic ash fall were noted.
“We gathered reports from the field of the strong sulfur smell coupled with the heavy rains in most areas in Central Negros and we know that this can turn into sulfuric acid which may affect our sugarcane,” the SRA top official explained.
The testing will include scraping ash from cane leaves and collection from surface grounds in the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Pontevedra and La Carlota City where volcanic ash turned some fields into gray.
Azcona said they received reports that some farmers took advantage of the heavy rains following the eruption to plant canes yesterday, and asked their research department to immediately release results of the test.
“We are hoping that the rains washed out the volcanic ash from planted canes,” he added.
The general condition of our sugarcane fields is already acidic and we just want to rule out more acidity in affected areas that can cause problems,” he said.
The SRA will also release P2 million for mitigating measures to aid affected localities and another P500,000 for medical missions that will address respiratory diseases related to the incident if need be./PN
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