October 8, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/MCdLDE
The SRA has sent funding proposals to the National Irrigation Agency (NIA) for shallow tube wells (PHP595 million-US$12.8 million) and cloud seeding operations (PHP11 million), said SRA Planning and Policy Manager Rosemarie S. Gumera in a phone call, according to the Philippines' Business World.
This follows SRA chief Maria Regina Bautista-Martin's recent warning of the potential impact of the weather phenomenon on the sugarcane industry, despite the relatively drought-resistant nature of the crop.
"Sugarcane is a very resilient crop, just like the Filipino people. Ask the old people who've had years of growing sugarcane, the sugarcane loves the sun. However, we still have to be prepared," Martin told industry stakeholders.
The current El Niño will "certainly affect" the next crop, Martin added.
"In the absence of irrigation, this will again result in poor germination for the plant cane and lower stool survival for the ratoon cane. Insufficient soil moisture will also decrease tillering capacity and retard stalk elongation, all resulting in lower cane and sugar production for affected farms," the SRA said.
"Insufficient soil moisture will also decrease tillering capacity and retard stalk elongation, all resulting to lower cane and sugar production to affected farms," the SRA added.
For crop year 2015 and 2016, total raw sugar production is forecast by the SRA to be 2.27 million metric tons.
The provinces of Cavite and Tarlac are now under a dry spell, while Pampanga, Batangas, Iloilo, and Cagayan will experience dry conditions. Isabela is now experiencing drought, the SRA said.
The whole Visayas region will be affected by a dry spell by December with Iloilo already in a drought.
By March and April of 2016, all the main sugar growing regions will be experiencing drought with the exception of Bukidnon, which faces dry conditions, the SRA said.
State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Association (PAGASA) said the El Niño could last until the second quarter of 2016, and is potentially one of the four worst El Niño cases since 1950.
Anthony Joseph R. Lucero, officer-in-charge of PAGASA's Climate Monitoring Section, said that the three previous worst El Niño episodes were recorded in 1972/73, 1982/83, and 1997/98.
An El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, according to the PAGASA.
Lucero said peak levels are expected in the months of December, January and February.