How sugarcane planters evaluate and decide on variety

This study was conducted in the mill district of Central Asucarrera de Don Pedro (CADP), Nasugbu, Batangas [Philippines], from May to August of 2003 to determine how the planters evaluate and decide on what sugarcane variety to grow. Planters' decision on variety was found to be mainly influenced by what their fellow planters were currently raising. Phil 7544, given the local name Pampanga, was observed to be the dominant variety used in the province. It had performed well under Batangas conditions and covered nearly 70% of sugarcane fields in the area during the study period. Interestingly, Phil 744 had been CADP planters favored varieties that were in popular use. Newly released and recommended hybrids take longer to be accepted since the CADP planters themselves who can afford test these new varieties before replacing their dominant variety. This raises two points: a) that in the search for new improved crops, breeding and selection must always go together, and b) that sugarcane scientist can best do the breeding while sugarcane planters can do best the selection. The authors recommend that the findings be taken positively by sugarcane breeding institutions because any adaptability data recorded in an earlier ecological test with new and recommended varieties need still be validated in planters' fields in terms of field stability across years of planting, particularly the ratoon performance of the variety. Planters weigh the risk of planting a variety they have not tested themselves as well as the cost of establishing a new crop, since under Batangas conditions this could reach P20,500/ha. CADP planters gave a much lower rating to variety (15%) than the fertilizer (58%) and cultivation (19%) as a factor contributing to yield. Fertilizer was given the highest rating because without it, yields would be very low considering the low nutrient-supplying capacity of their soils that have been grown to sugarcane over long periods of time. Variety was given lower ratings. This is attributable to the way varieties are being used. Farm operations do not stop even if a variety is lost as they can request cuttings from their fellow planters or their Mill District Development Coordinator.