The Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) are coordinating with other government agencies to ensure stable supplies of fuel and fertiliser for sugar producers as the harvest season reaches its most resource-intensive phase, Daily Star reported.
The move comes amid concerns that the ongoing tensions in the Middle East could disrupt global petroleum supplies and affect the availability of farm inputs used by the sugar sector.
Demand for fuel usually rises sharply during the peak harvest period when farmers cut sugarcane, transport it to mills and prepare fields for the next crop. Tractors used for land preparation, irrigation systems and hauling operations depend heavily on fuel, according to the SRA.
At the same time, farmers also increase fertiliser use as they begin preparing for the next planting cycle.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the agency has sought the assistance of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to raise the industryтАЩs concerns with the Department of Energy and other relevant agencies.
Azcona said the request was made to address problems that sugar farmers could face if the Middle East conflict affects fuel supplies or raises prices of petroleum-based inputs.
The issue was earlier flagged by David Sanson, the farmer representative on the SRA board, who asked sugar federations to suggest possible government measures in case global tensions lead to supply disruptions or price spikes.
Tiu Laurel said the government recognises the importance of fuel and fertiliser in maintaining farm productivity and will work to ensure a stable supply of these inputs for sugar farmers and other agricultural producers.
Industry officials said stabilising these inputs during the harvest peak is essential to protect production and prevent rising costs from affecting the countryтАЩs sugar supply chain.
