The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has established a demonstration site for the deep planting technology transfer from Japan, at the La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center (LGAREC) in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

On Tuesday, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya led a team of officials and researchers on a visit to the research center with SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona.

In a statement, Azcona thanked Kazuya, the Japanese government, and its people for the collaboration that benefited Filipino farmers.

“It has been a great honor for SRA to work with the Japanese towards the improvement and sustainability of our industry,” he said.

Before the demonstration site was established in Negros Occidental, the deep planting technology was tested in three sites in Pampanga.

According to a study implemented by the SRA, in collaboration with Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), deep planting resulted in increased yield of 20.8 percent to 77.23 tons per hectare, from an average yield of 63.92 tons per hectare for manual planting.

This is equivalent to 28.2 bags of sugar, or an increase in income of PHP68,215 per hectare.

On Monday, Kazuya spoke at the opening of the two-day Sustainable Development of Sugarcane Cultivation Symposium at the Sugarland Hotel here.

The symposium on the outcome of the five-year Japan-Philippines Collaborative Research towards a more resilient and sustainable sugar industry was led by the SRA and JIRCAS.

Kazuya said the project not only boosts agricultural productivity but also pioneers innovative, sustainable technologies.

“One notable example is the deep-planting cultivation technology developed by JIRCAS, in collaboration with SRA. Now an integral part of JIRCAS and SRA’s research efforts, it ensures sustainable sugarcane production, even in extreme weather conditions,” he said.

Kazuya also noted the ongoing collaborations centered on soil runoff control, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility improvement, which are measures that further enhance sustainability in agricultural practices.

“These initiatives are a critical part of a broader effort to foster sustainable agricultural development. They further focus on tackling pressing challenges, such as climate change and food security. I am proud that Japan has lent support to initiatives like these and hope these efforts continue,” he said.

The Japanese ambassador also expressed optimism on the agreement signed between the SRA and the University of Tokyo in March this year to further advance practical sugarcane research.

“This partnership will seek to develop new technologies and improve systems. It will also explore how sugarcane can benefit various industries, such as the development of bioethanol,” he said. (PNA)