Crop Production-Sugar Cane

Crop Production-Sugar Cane

In 2005, the Philippines is the 9th largest sugar producer in the world and 2nd largest sugar producer among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, second to Thailand, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division. At least 17 provinces located in 8 regions of the Philippine archipelago have grown sugarcane crops, of which the two onNegros island account for half of the country’s total production. As of Crop Year 2009-2010, 29 mills are operational divided as follows: 6 mills on Luzon, 13 mills on Negros, 4 mills on Panay, 3 mills in Eastern Visayas and 3 mills on Mindanao.

The Philippines main agricultural export commodity 

Sugarcane is not a sensitive crop and can be grown in almost all types of soil, from sandy loams to clay loams and from acidic volcanic soils to calcareous sedimentary deposits. The harvest period is from October to December and ends in May.

Sugar became the most important agricultural export of the Philippines between the late eighteenth century and the mid-1970s basically because of two reasons: 1) foreign exchange earned and 2) it was the basis of wealth accumulation of some Filipino elite at that time. To ensure the continuous growth and development of sugar industry under the Commonwealth government, Philippine Sugar Administration(PSA) was established in 1937 to oversee the industry.

After the Second World War the Sugar Quota Administration (SQA) replaced PSA in 1951 vis-à-vis with Philippine Sugar Institute (PHILSUGIN), a research agency. During the 1950s and 60s, more than 20 percent income of Philippine exports came from the sugar industry. It declined in the 70s and plunged further in the first half of the 80s to roughly 7 percent. It was during this period when the government acknowledged the existence of crisis in the industry. One of the factors that contributed to the worsening situation of the industry during that time was the depressed market for sugar.

In 1974, there was a dramatic escalation in the world price that peaked at around US$0.67 per pound of sugar. In succeeding two consecutive years, world prices of sugar fell to less than US$0.10 and remain in that situation for few years until it moved upward before the decade ends. During the early 80s, world sugar prices fell again with US$0.03 per pound as the bottommost. Prices recovered to US$0.14 cents per pound then fell again between US$0.08 to US$0.09 per pound at the beginning of the early 1990s.

Milling Sub-Sector

Luzon (6 mills)

• Cagayan Sugar Mill Company (Piat, Cagayan)
• Sweet Crystals Integrated Sugar Mills (Pampanga)
• Central Azucarera de Tarlac (Tarlac)

Central Azucarera de Tarlac

• Batangas Sugar Central Incorporated (Balayan, Batangas)
• Central Azucarera de Don Pedro (Nasugbu, Batangas)
• Peñafrancia Sugar Mill (Peñafrancia, Camarines Sur)

Negros (13 mills)

• Aidsisa
• Bais-Ursumco
• Biscom
• Dacongcogon
• First Farmers
• Hawaiian-Philippines
• La Carlota
• Lopez
• Ragasa F.C.
• Sagay
• Sonedco
• Tolong (Teves)
• Victorias

Panay (4 mills)

• Passi
• Santos Lopez
• Monomer
• Capiz Sugar Central, Inc. (President Roxas, Capiz)

Eastern Visayas (3 mills)

• Bogo-Medellin
• Durano
• Kananga Sugar Mill (Ormoc, Leyte)

Mindanao (4 mills)

• Bukidnon Sugar Company
• Crystal (Maramag, Bukidnon)
• Davao Sugar Central Company (Hagonoy, Davao del Sur)
• Cotabato Sugar Central Company (Matalam, North Cotabato)

Sugar Cane Production

Sugarcane is a perennial grass very efficient in "harvesting the sun", that is, in converting sun's energy into sugar and fiber. Stem cuttings or sections of the stalks called "setts" or seed pieces propagate sugarcane. Each sett contains one or more buds. The buds, located in the root band of the node, are embryonic shoots consisting of a miniature stalk with small leaves. The outer small leaves are in the form of scales. The outermost bud scale has the form of a hood. Normally, one bud is present on each node and they alternate between one side of the stalk to the other.  Variations in size, shape and ther characteristics of the bud provide a means of distinguishing between varieties. Each sett also contains a circle of small dots above the node, which are the root primordia. Each primordium exhibits a dark center, which is a root cap, and a light colored "halo". The bud sprouts under favourable conditions and gives rise to a primary stalk, whereas from the primordial the sett roots originate. During nearly one month after germination, that is, sprouting of the buds, the young plant lives at the expense of the reserves present in the seed piece, and partially using water and nutrients provided for by the first roots.

Crop Growth Phases

Sugarcane has essentially four-growth phase's viz :germination phase, tillering (formative) phase, grand growth phase and maturity & ripening phase (Kuyper, 1952). A brief under standing of these growth phases would help in better management of the crop. Soil Requirement Soil is a medium for plant growth. It provides nutrients, water and anchorage to the growing plants. Maintenance of proper physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil is necessary for realizing higher growth, yield and quality of sugarcane. Sugarcane does not require any specific type of soil as it can be successfully raised on diverse soil types ranging from sandy soils to clay loams & heavy clays. Drip Irrigation Features Introduction Drip irrigation in sugarcane is a relatively new innovative technology that can conserve water, energy and increase profits. Thus, drip irrigation may help solve three of the most important problems of irrigated sugarcane - water scarcity, rising pumping (energy) costs and depressed farm profits.  Surface Drip  Subsurface Drip