The Philippine Sugar Technologists Association’s (PHILSUTECH) Farm Tour, a much-awaited annual activity in the sugar industry, has been scheduled March 9-10 at La Carlota City and Silay City.
Spearheaded by Philsutech’s Agriculture and Farm Engineering Division vice-president and director Elsie Monteclaro, and Director Helen Lobaton, the farm tour offers participants opportunities to learn more about updated methods and technologies in sugarcane cultivation.
The first day, March 9, of the farm tour will be at JG Clubhouse of URC SURE – La Carlota, where the group will be welcomed by operations manager Mario Palma and Philsutech president Susan Benitez.
URC-La Carlota Distillery Environment, Health and Safety manager Engr. Sheila Lou Amor will present updates on the production of canes treated with spent wash, the waste stream from distilleries, at the Enfarbco Farm.
The question and answer portion of the presentation will be followed by another presentation from Ng Kee Son and Miguel Lasam Jr., the general manager and corporate secretary, respectively, of biofertilizer dealer BIO-IBG Philippines.
The participants will then proceed to the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s La Granja Agricultural Research Center (SRA LCGREC) in La Carlota, where they will be welcomed by SRA administrator David John Thaddeus Alba.
Sugarcane farmer Ferdinand Gayoles will discuss his experience using beneficial microorganisms (BMO) in his farm, without using any chemical fertilizers.
SRA LGAREC Chief Science Research specialist Teresita Bañas will then present the growth and yield performance of high-yielding sugarcane varieties PF PHIL 2008 1009, Phil 2009-1567 and Phil 2010-0149, under different seasons of planting.
Rimmon Armones, SRA’s principal sugarcane breeder and in-charge of the Biotech Section, will also present SRA Climate Resilient Varieties and Variety Programming.
Before the group departs for Bacolod City, they will learn from Tractorco corporate secretary and general manager, Jeanet Santiago, about farm machineries to help overcome high fertilizer prices.
The second day of the farm tour will see the participants touring the cane farms in Hda. Adela, Silay City. They will be welcomed by Philippine Sugar Research Institute (Philsurin) director general Ma. Regina Martin.
The participants will listen to the presentation of Philsurin senior agronomist Haydee Villariez on how to Level Up Your Productivity: Switch to New Suitable High Yielding Varieties (HYVs). After the question and answer, the group will depart for Bacolod.
Aside from the farm tour, Philsutech also conducts other seminars for the continuing education of its members.
Slated for April 17-20 is the live-in short course on Applied Technology on Sugar Processing (ATSP Batch 24), at the Luxur Place Hotel, Bacolod City, followed on April 28 and 29 by a seminar on Applied Technology on Environmental Management (ATBEM), at the same venue.
On May 16-19, Philsutech will conduct the short course on Applied Technology on Energy Management and Utilization (ATEMU), still at Luxur Place Hotel, Bacolod City.
The topics and schedule of the management webinar will be announced later. For more information, interested parties may contact the Philsutech secretariat at telephone numbers 434-3013, 4348127 and 434-1591.*
