The Philippine sugar industry is reaffirming its commitment to prioritizing farmers, with a focus on technological advancements and improving soil health, according to Sugar Regulatory Administrator (SRA) Pablo Luis Azcona, reports Digicast Negros.
Azcona stated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel have made it clear that “The farmer always comes first. Without the farmer, we will not have a sugar industry.” He conveyed this message during the opening of the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Inc. (Philsutech) Technology Transfer and Farm Tour in Bacolod City.
The annual Philsutech Farm Tour, organized by the Agriculture and Farm Engineering Division, aims to provide updates on research related to high-yielding sugarcane varieties, the integration of modern farming technologies, and cost-effective cultivation practices.
Azcona commended Philsutech for its role in introducing innovative solutions to boost productivity and reduce costs within the sugar industry. “From the SRA side, we are dedicated to providing you with as much knowledge and help as we can,” he said.
He also announced significant advancements in SRA’s laboratory capabilities, stating, “We are proud to announce that, finally, our laboratories in Bacolod and La Granja now have the top-of-the-line soil analysis machines running and being calibrated. We are proud that the sugar industry has it, and it is the only industry which has such machines in Negros Island.”
Furthermore, Azcona revealed plans to acquire additional soil analysis machines for Luzon and Mindanao, emphasizing the importance of soil rejuvenation for successful farming. “The SRA is working on a program for small-scale irrigation systems (shallow tube wells) for small farmers,” he added. The SRA is also promoting the use of high-yielding sugarcane varieties, modernizing farming practices, and enhancing mill efficiency to improve overall production.
Approximately 100 participants from various sugar-producing provinces across the Philippines attended the Philsutech Farm Tour.
