The decrease in sugar prices, while beneficial to consumers, poses significant challenges to sugar workers, farmers, producers, and the sugar industry in Negros Island Region, Wennie Sancho, convenor of Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM) said in a statement.
Sancho said some of the negative impacts include reduced income for sugar workers. With lower sugar prices, sugar producers may resort to cost-cutting measures, such as lowering wages or reducing the workforce, to sustain their businesses. This could lead to slave-like wages or job losses for sugar workers.
Small sugar farmers may struggle to maintain their operations due to increased production costs, including a 200 percent rise in fertilizer prices. This could force them to sell their lands or abandon sugar farming altogether, he said.
The red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in Negros Occidental has damaged nearly 3,000 hectares of sugarcane fields, potentially reducing sugar content by up to 50 percent. This could lead to significant losses for farmers and impact the region’s sugar production, Sancho added.
The sugar industry’s instability could threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers and farmers who depend on sugar production. If left unaddressed, this could lead to food insecurity and poverty in the region, he said.
Sancho said the importation of sugar could undermine the local sugar industry, particularly small and organic farmers, who may struggle to compete with cheaper imports. This could lead to a decline in domestic sugar production and further exacerbate the industry’s challenges.
The struggles of small sugar farmers could lead to the conversion of sugarcane plantations to other uses, such as subdivisions or real estate, reducing the land available for sugar production and potentially displacing farmers and workers.
Overall, the sugar industry’s challenges in Negros Island Region are complex and multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive approach to address the needs of sugar workers, farmers, and producers while ensuring the sustainability of the industry, he added.*
