SRA expresses fear over Kanlaon eruption’s impact on local sugar sector

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Tuesday expressed concern on the impact of Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption in Negros Occidental on the country’s sugar industry.

“The main problem, according to our technicians and scientists, is the acidity of ash. So, if it stays on the leaves, it will burn the leaves. When the leaves are burned, what happens is canes mature a lot faster and will go into inversion. Sugar turns into vinegar, more or less,” said SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona at a press chat in Makati City.

Azcona said that, based on initial reports, ash fall from the eruption has affected La Carlota, Negros Occidental, which hosts one of the biggest sugar mills in the region.

In particular, he said the Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pontevedra Inc., considered the biggest sugar farmer association in the Philippines, is located in La Carlota.

Last June, Kanlaon also erupted, which according to the SRA chief, caused damage to sugarcane leaves, therefore reducing its photosynthesis capability as well as causing biological and chemical disruption on the soil that could all lead to reduction of sugar yield.

With this, Azcona expressed hope that the rainfalls would help in washing away ash fall and lower the acidity levels on crops.

Nonetheless, the SRA has been projecting a decrease in the country’s sugar production for the current crop year to 1.78 million metric tons (MT), down by 7.3% from the previous crop year’s 1.92 million MT due to the combined effects of El Niño and La Niña phenomena.

Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, prevailing retail price of sugar ranges from P74 to P90 per kg for refined sugar, P67 to P85 per kg for washed sugar, and P65 to P85 per kg for brown sugar. —RF, GMA Integrated News