The Negros del Norte Planters Association posted an increase of 13 percent in sugar production in crop year 2005-2006, the association said in a press release.

Its reelected president, Arsenio Acuña, said at their general assembly held at the Victorias Milling Company Golf Club Saturday that their members' sugar output rose to 370,000 metric tons from the previous year's only 3,265,228 metric tons, but the highest cane volume delivered to the VMC. Acuña said the total sugar output could have been higher if not for the decrease in sugar yield per ton of cane.

The 2006 yield was only 1.99 Lkg per ton compared to the past year's 2.11 Lkg.

Still, Acuña said the decline in sugar output was compensated by the increase in volume of cane delivered, the press release added.

He added that composite prices of sugar averaged at P1,056.83 that was good for the sugarcane farmers, especially the small members of their 3,747-member association, the press release said.

Acuña urged his fellow planters to invest more in fertilizer application and irrigation equipment, and plant new high yielding varieties.

He added that their association's cooperative also secured a P300-million Quedan Financing Line for 893 small planters whose sugar production in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 were coursed through the cooperative.

Moreover, Acuña said in the press release the passage of the Biofuels' Act of 2006 places a high demand for sugarcane as feedstock for ethanol production and tremendous pressure will be exerted on the sugar market as distilleries and mills will be competing for sugarcane.

The government, he said, will develop new sugarcane areas and the demand can directly benefit the farmers because it will trigger employment and economic prosperity.

Other association officers are Teodoro Benedicto, vice president; Alexis Javelosa, secretary-treasurer; and Edwin Evangelista, general manager, the press release added.*

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