• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Its business as usual for sugarcane farmers, who are continuing to replant the El Niño damaged canes, following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon Monday night, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
In a statement, SRA said that the rain is helping neutralize the acidity of the volcanic ash, in which the eruption has minimal damage to sugarcane fields.
Rivers and creeks already have lahar flow but, so far, there is no crop damage, it added.
Soil and leaf samples taken on June 5 and June 6 in 23 farm locations around Kanlaon showed an improvement of pH level – from 5.0 to about 5.8 to 5.9 on June 6.
Leaf ash pH improved from 4.14 to 4.7 pH average.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona approved the utilization of P2.5 million assistance to farmers and its employees affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, the statement added. | GB
