- GILBERT BAYORAN
Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio “Dino” Yulo, a former board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), said sugar prices this milling season may not reach last year’s price of P2,400 to P4,000 per sack.
This is because the SRA still has a huge stock balance of sugar, Yulo told RMN-DyHB, stressing that it will be a challenge to the small sugar planters.
The solon advised sugarcane farmers to increase their productivity to combat the expected lower prices of sugar.
In compliance with the order of the SRA, two sugar centrals in northern Negros are expected to start their milling operations for crop year 2023-2024 on Sept. 4.
The Lopez Sugar Corporation and Sagay Central Inc. announced that they will start accepting canes in their respective transloading stations on Sept. 1.
Sugar mills that open first usually get more farmer customers, according to SRA head Pablo Azcona.
SRA earlier rejected calls from three sugarcane planter federations to start the milling season in August, the same month as last year.
Azcona pointed out that sugar production is lower in August, due to the rainy season.
Through the amended schedule, Azcona said farmers will have the opportunity to choose their sugar mill based on efficiency, incentive offers, and the help that the mill extends to farmers./GB
