Seven farmer associations in Sagay City received planting materials of a high-yielding sugarcane variety as the city strengthens efforts to help small planters rebuild production following losses caused by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation.
The Sagay City Canepoints Dispersal Program was launched Nov. 11 at Hacienda Candi-is in Brgy. Paraiso through a partnership between the City Government and the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation Inc. (PHILSURIN), a press release from Sagay said Friday. Nov. 13.
The initiative provides PSR 03-171 planting materials as start-up capital for small sugarcane planters affected by RSSI, allowing farmer groups to establish their own source of cane points and eventually expand access to the variety among other growers.
The intervention comes as Sagay remains among the Negros Occidental localities affected by RSSI.
In September, 1,164 affected sugarcane farmers in Sagay received more than P12 million in emergency cash transfers, while government agencies continue pest-control and recovery programs across Negros.
Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” M. Cueva said helping farmers recover requires interventions that address both their immediate losses and their ability to return to productive farming.
“Our farmers have already gone through the impact of RSSI and other challenges affecting sugarcane production. We cannot stop with emergency assistance alone,” Cueva said.
The mayor added the city needs to help them plant again, improve production and give them access to technologies and varieties that can strengthen their farms in the long term
He said the partnership with PHILSURIN complements the city’s continuing assistance to the agriculture sector and expressed hope that the planting materials would eventually benefit more small planters beyond the initial recipients.
PSR 03-171 was developed from VMC 84-947 and PHIL 80-13 and is promoted by PHILSURIN as a productive and resilient variety with strong ratooning ability and consistent performance.
PHILSURIN has also documented its ability to recover from severe flooding and its resistance to rust, yellow spot and leaf scorch.
Information presented during the dispersal showed that the variety is a good germinator, a semi-fast to fast grower, has fairly heavy tillering and can produce around 90 to 130 tons of cane per hectare under suitable conditions.
PHILSURIN Coordinator Bernie Dequinto said the variety underwent years of development and field trials before reaching the farmers and has shown strong potential compared with other varieties tested in different milling districts.
“This is a variety that we hope can help our farmers recover production. We are glad to finally see it being planted and expanded here in northern Negros,” Dequinto said.
He said the activity also marks the beginning of stronger collaboration between PHILSURIN and the City Government, with other programs already being explored for Sagay’s sugarcane farmers.
Under the dispersal arrangement discussed during the activity, beneficiaries will initially receive five lacsa of planting materials and later return three lacsa after propagation so the cane points can be redistributed and the variety can reach more farmers.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration defines one lacsa as 10,000 sugarcane seed pieces, making the dispersal system a means of multiplying planting materials through participating farms rather than limiting the benefit to the first recipients.
Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Sherwin Sy said the city intends to continue supporting farmers affected by RSSI while ensuring that the distributed materials are multiplied and shared.
Sy was also joined by his fellow Councilors Exequiel Marañon and Dr. Mel Alexis Serondo.
“We hope this will help our farmers recover from the effects of RSSI. The purpose of the return system is to make the variety spread faster so that more farmers can benefit. This will be a continuing program and not a one-time assistance,” Sy said.
He thanked Cueva, Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” D. Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), Board Member Arthur Christopher “Atoy” D. Marañon, and PHILSURIN for supporting the program.
Board Member Marañon said the planting material program should form part of a broader recovery strategy for sugar-producing communities affected by the pest.
“Recovery should not only mean controlling the pest, it should also mean helping farmers restart with better planting materials, stronger technical support and programs that allow them to become productive again. We hope what begins here in Sagay can continue to expand to more farming communities,” Marañon said.
Cueva said the city will continue coordinating with PHILSURIN, the Sugar Regulatory Administration, farmer groups and other agencies on interventions for sugarcane production while RSSI management continues.*
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