3 Cagayan towns to host sugarcane block farming

A sugarcane block farming project that aims to increase the income of farmers will be implemented in three areas in the municipalities of Tuao, Piat, and Solana in Cagayan, a provincial agrarian reform officer said recently.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Virgilio Acasili confirmed the establishment of sugar block farms in the agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in sugarcaneproducing areas following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) among the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

Sugarcane block farming is a system in the sugar industry roadmap that aims to encourage farmers to group their production areas together into an integrated farming block. This scheme also aims to make local sugar production cost efficient and profitable by increasing yield per hectare.

The sugarcane block farming project is an intensified consolidation of awarded lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with three hectares or less to be integrated into 30-50 hectares through different schemes such as partnership, joint venture and sharing while preserving individual ownership, Acasili said.

This sugar project in Cagayan is part of the 424.6-million fund that will be set aside for the provision of farm equipment, farmers’ trainings, construction of farm-to-mill roads and establishment of livelihood activities.

The three-year project will be implemented covering 99 sugarcane block farms in Cagayan, Isabela, Tarlac, Pampanga, Batangas, Albay, Camarines Sur, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Leyte, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.