January 3, 2006

Philippines might significantly cut corn imports
 

The Philippines might significantly cut corn imports or even stop them totally within two crop years, due to a 400-million-peso post-harvest joint venture project between the National Agribusiness Corp. and the private sector, according to the government.

Jesus Binamira, Department of Agriculture (DA) corn programme coordinator, said corn imports might be stopped if there were enough post-harvest facilities nationwide.

The DA is planning a 600 million-peso corn budget for 2006. Part of the amount would be used to support agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers, as well as for training farmers.

Binamira added that under the new project, the DA would set a corn production target of 6.2 million tonnes for 2006, up 14.81 percent from 5.4 million tonnes projected for 2005.

The Philippines only imported 10,000 tonnes of corn in 2004 due to high domestic corn production at 5.41 million tonnes.

But feed millers also imported about 500,000 tonnes of wheat that year because the grain was cheaper and helped meet formula requirements for feed.