BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Sugarcane planters may brace for possibly lower sugar prices in the coming milling season, according to a lawmaker.
Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Yulo, a former board member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), yesterday disclosed that sugar prices may not reach P2,400 to P4,000 per sack, which occurred last year.
Yulo told radio dyHB radio that this is because the SRA still has a huge stock balance of sugar, as he also stressed that it will be challenging for small sugar planters.
The lawmaker 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 Corp. and Sagay Central Inc. have announced that they would start accepting canes in their respective transloading stations on Sept. 1.
Sugar mills which open first usually get more farmer customers, according to SRA head Pablo Azcona.
The SRA earlier rejected calls from three sugarcane planter federations to start the milling season this month, which was started in the same month last year.
Azcona pointed out that sugar production is lower in August, amid the rainy season.
Through this schedule, Azcona said farmers would have the opportunity to choose their sugar mill based on efficiency, incentive offers and assistance that the mill extends to farmers.