Sugarcane rose from the doldrums and outperformed other Philippine crops in 2011, registering that year four successive quarters of production increases highlighted by triple-digit growth rates during the April-June and July-September periods.

Data released by the Department of Agriculture this week show the country's 2011 sugarcane production volume totaled nearly 28.40 million metric tons - 58.27 percent higher than the 17.93 million MTs this crop posted in 2010.

In 2010, nationwide sugarcane production dipped 21.82 percent below its 2009 level of 22.93 million MTs.

The data further show value of sugarcane production at constant prices hit P22.42 billion in 2011, exceeding the P14.16 billion such crop posted in 2010.

DA also reported the country's sugarcane production volume during 2011's first and fourth quarters reached 12.75 million MTs and 8.14 million MTs, respectively.

Such outputs were the highest in the crops sub-sector during both reference periods.

Nationwide sugarcane production in 2011's first and fourth quarters also correspondingly surpassed by 26.73 percent and 24.26 percent the country's 10.06 million MTs and 6.55 million MTs output for this crop throughout the same periods in 2010, DA data likewise show.

For 2011's second and third quarters, DA reported the Philippine sugarcane production reached 6.90 million MTs and 594,000 MTs.

Such volumes were 511 percent and 208.46 percent more than the 1.12 million MTs and 192,000 MTs of sugarcane produced during the same reference quarters in 2010.

The data show none in the crops sub-sector except sugarcane registered triple-digit production growth rates during last year's second and third quarters.

Earlier, DA came up with the block farming system to help boost domestic sugar production and local farmers' income.

Such system consolidates into a single block of 30 to 50 hectares farms below 10 hectares in size to realize the economies of scale needed for cost-efficient production of sugar.

DA said farms can be consolidated and integrated through contract arrangements, joint venture schemes, partnerships, sharing agreements and other modes.

Last week, the government launched a 927-hectare sugarcane block farm in Batangas province's Tuy municipality.

At least 919 agrarian reform beneficiaries belonging to four cooperatives there are involved in such project, DA noted.

Department of Agrarian Reform clarified ownership of farms concerned will remain despite consolidating these into a block.

DAR gave such assurance, noting the ARBs will retain their respective land titles.

The agency, DA and Sugar Regulatory Administration are partnering on the project. *PNA

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