Bacolod City: The Sugar Council, comprising three sugarcane producers’ federations in the country, has strongly opposed the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) proposal to address the low mill gate prices of sugar by “allowing traders to import even more sugar,” reported Philstar.
In a released statement, the Sugar Council clarified that their objection arises from the widespread belief among sugarcane farmers that sugar importation is the root cause of the existing low millgate prices. The council conveyed their concerns in a letter addressed to SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona.
“While recognizing the need for timely and appropriate intervention, we find your proposed traders program untimely. The prevailing perception among farmers that mill gate prices have dropped due to over-importation and predatory pricing raises serious questions about any program suggesting more trader intervention and importation. Insisting on such a course of action would only compound the issue,” stated the council in its letter.
The Sugar Council, a collaboration between the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc. (CONFED), National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc. (NFSP), and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc. (PANAYFED), represents over 66 percent of the country’s sugar production affiliated with sugar producer associations nationwide.
“We have objected to importing more sugar as there are other better alternatives,” asserted CONFED president Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr., referring to the government intervention plan endorsed by the Sugar Council.
Valderrama recalled that last month, the Sugar Council proposed a government intervention solution to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who directed the SRA to convene a technical working group (TWG) meeting to finalize the details. Contrary to expectations, Valderrama noted that the SRA introduced a new plan, involving traders and importation.
The Sugar Council views the two proposals – government intervention versus more sugar importation – as “opposed.” The council advocates for the government intervention plan, emphasizing the importance of finding solutions that rise above setbacks rather than exacerbate existing challenges.
