MILLERS are clamoring for a two-week delay on the start of milling for crop year 2024-2025, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA)
The SRA said the delay will give sugar canes more time to increase their sugar content following the effects of El Niño on the crops.
Pablo Azcona, SRA administrator, said all sugar mills should agree on the proposal. Milling this year is scheduled to start by September 15.
Azcona said a collective decision is crucial since only the big planters can afford the delay.
“Nobody expected the effects of the long drought and many, if not all, are just at the recovery period now. Harvesting the canes by September 15 will yield less sugar for farmers,” Azcona said.
SRA said if farmers will not cut their canes prematurely, mills might have to operate intermittently which will be costly in the long run.
The agency said Victorias Milling Co. and Universal Robina Corp., two of the biggest mill operators, had no objections to the proposed two-week delay.
Renato Cabati, URC managing director, said they “strongly agree” for all mills to start their operations together, at least in Negros Occidental where mills start ahead of everybody else in the country.
SRA also tasked the Philippine Sugar Millers Association to bring the mills together and “make a collective decision that is a win-win for all” especially for the farmers.
“…This is where the mills and the associations, including your SRA, can come into play by offering incentives, loans and more importantly, make them understand the higher yield which will translate to profit if everybody agrees to this,” Azcona said.
SRA said that mills in Luzon have decided to delay their opening by a month.
