SRA maps out P10-B program to boost sugar farming in next 3 years

Farmers harvesting sugarcane—Analyn Escanes

MANILA, Philippines — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) intends to spend around P10 billion in the next three years to implement different projects aimed at improving the yield and income of sugarcane farmers.

SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the funds would be taken from the Department of Agriculture’s three-year budget proposal covering the years 2026 to 2028.

One of the projects in the pipeline is the small-scale solar irrigation with shallow tube wells. Azcona estimated that this could increase yield value by P7.7 billion annually.

The SRA chief said the irrigation project would include 16,000 units that are capable of irrigating about one-third or 160,000 hectares of the 388,000 hectares of sugarcane plantation.

Soil rejuvenation

“Also, we also proposed a soil rejuvenation program taking into consideration that most farms in Batangas and Tarlac have a very low pH level (acidity level) of 4.5. It’s highly acidic,” he told reporters.

Azcona said the soil rejuvenation project involves a massive liming project covering 5 metric tons of lime per hectare. In agriculture, liming refers to the application of different materials to reduce soil acidity.

“The soil rejuvenation plus the irrigation, if pushed through, would bring in about an increase of 180,000 metric tons of sugar production. This will greatly lessen our dependence on imported sugar,” he said.

Azcona said the soil rejuvenation project could be completed “a lot quicker” during the next planting season in 2026, while finishing the irrigation project could take years.

“It will be sometime beginning October 2025, if we will implement this – if there’s a budget. If not, it will be October 2026,” he said, referring to the soil rejuvenation program.

“We cannot implement this while the sugarcane is still standing. We can put the lime during land preparation,” he added.

Both projects are among the matters tackled in a meeting between President Marcos, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and other agricultural officials on March 25.

READ: For 2nd straight year, Philippines exporting sugar to America

Production target

The SRA was upbeat about reaching its target of 1.78 million metric tons (MT) of raw sugar production for crop year 2024-2025. Amid the potential impact of the El Niño phenomenon, this would be 7 percent lower than the actual volume of 1.92 million MT recorded in the previous crop year.

“The only thing that keeps us going or keeps us hoping is [that] the northern part of Negros is delayed in harvesting because of the weather,” he added.

Domestic sugar output totaled 1.92 million MT in crop year 2023-2024, up by 6.8 percent from the previous crop year.