The Block Farm Program of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) drew interest from other sugar producing countries in the recent 47 th   Council Session of the International Sugar Organization (ISO) held in Antigua, Guatemala, SRA Administrator Regina Bautista-Martin said yesterday.

In the council session, Martin gave a presentation on Philippine sugar policies which touched on the Block Farm Program, the centerpiece of the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015. 

After her presentation, delegates from Tanzania and Fiji expressed their interest to learn more about the program. Both countries have small farm holdings of less than 10 hectares which find it difficult to remain viable in a volatile world market and changing sugar policies, particularly in the E.U, she said.

The Block Farm Program which is farm consolidation to efficiently provide management, technical and production support services may help address their sugar industry situation. They hinted on their delegations' possible visit to the Philippines to see firsthand the operation of block farms, Martin added.

The ISO is an intergovernmental organization based in London which is made up of sugar producing countries, including the European Union.

The ISO was created by the International Sugar Agreement of 1968, and aims to promote the trade in and consumption of sugar by gathering and publishing information on the sugar market, research into new uses for sugar and related products, and as a forum for intergovernmental discussions on sugar, Martin said.

This is the second consecutive year that SRA was asked to give a presentation during the ISO Council Session. Martin is also a plenary presenter in the 24 th   ISO Seminar November 2015 in London.*

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