The idle period between the planting and the harvest, when the fields no longer need any work done, is known as the “dead season” or “tiempo muerto”, which is that time of year right now when life could be described as difficult by the underprivileged, and this season should be nearing its end with the impending reopening of sugar mills.
As of now, the Sugar Regulatory Administration will allow sugar mills to reopen on September 1, maintaining that the strategy will result in higher yield and increase revenues for farmers. This is the response of SRA head Pablo Azcona to the letter of the Sugar Council, composed of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations Inc., and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, asking to jumpstart the milling season to mid-August.
They contend that delaying the start of milling to September could cause about 400,000 tons of ratoon plants that are now mature, to become overripe.
The Sugar Council also raised the concern of cash flow for small farmers, who are among the most affected by the tiempo muerto, and the SRA will apparently look into the possibility of providing assistance for those farmers who need help. Hopefully the SRA officials who claim to be looking at the big picture as they adjust the milling season schedule with an eye on productivity, are also keeping an eye on the details, particularly those underprivileged stakeholders of the industry, and the promised assistance is delivered to those who need it before the mills reopen.
Managing the sugar industry, that is the lifeblood of Negros Island, is certainly a difficult and complicated task that the SRA has to face, and there are often compromises that have to be made to support a long term goal that hopefully benefits the majority, which in the case of the Philippines, are usually the ones who have the least, but stand to be impacted the most should something go awry.
As of now, the stakeholders of the industry can only hope and trust that the current crop of officials know what they are doing and are protecting their interests.*
