THE United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) pushed the government to assist them as the farmgate price of raw sugar has fallen below their production cost.

Likewise, the group said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr should “intervene” witht he producers experiencing losses with the current farmgate prices. 

“Ang sa amin po only P50 na way, way too low. Dapat po mga P57 to P58, to P60, ok na kami dyan," said UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said.

"We're asking the President for immediate intervention of the government. Sila po ang bibili muna from the actual farmgate namin. Kahit hindi lahat, they should jump start yung bilihan, para yung traders susunod. Initial intervention lang po, like dead battery ng kotse, konting jolt,” he added.

For his part, Sugar Regulatory Administration Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona confirmed the low farmgate price of sugar. 

"We’re also seeking the government baka there is an agency that can come in and give the farmers a better farmgate price and help lower the retail price kasi kami po ay retail consumer din kami,” Azcona added. 

Azcona explained that even the local production dropped.

“Sa ngayon, most of the farmers are complaining now, ang baba ng production nila because of the weather last year. Tapos umpisa na sa Negros, wala na kaming ulan,” Azcona said. 

He also said that they expect sugar production to fall next year.

“As SRA, were doing mitigation measures for the weather side, ang problema lang we're also seeking government intervention through the other agencies," he said.