Philippines: The Sugar Regulatory Administration expresses fear over the Kanlaon eruption's impact on the local sugar sector

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Tuesday expressed concern on the impact of Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption in Negros Occidental on the country’s sugar industry. “The main problem, according to our technicians and scientists, is the acidity of ash. So, if it stays on the leaves, it will burn the leaves. When the leaves are burned, what happens is canes mature a lot faster and will go into inversion. Sugar turns into vinegar, more or less,” said SRA Administrator Pablo Azcona at a press chat in Makati City. Azcona said that, based on initial reports, ash fall from the eruption has affected La Carlota, Negros Occidental, which hosts one of the biggest sugar mills in the region. In particular, he said the Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pontevedra Inc., considered the biggest sugar farmer association in the Philippines, is located in La Carlota. Last June, Kanlaon also erupted, which according to the SRA chief, caused damage to sugarcane leaves, therefore reducing ...