Philippines corn centre soon to open

The PHP68 million (US$1.5 million) Corn Post Harvest Processing and Trading Centre (CPHPTC) in Barangay Mabuhay, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, will soon open.

The opening of CPHPTC signals the start of a joint business venture between the National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) and the provincial government of Agusan del Sur.

The plant would also serve as a centre for buying corn on cobs, corn processing, selling of corn grains, and production of food corn in the Caraga Region.

The start of the operation of CPHPTC will also ensure a market of farmers' produce at competitive prices, provide mechanism that reduces the corn drying and processing cost by at least 50%, ensure continuous supply of premium quality corn grains at 14% moisture content and decrease post harvest losses from 15% to 5% of production.

The CPHPTC facility could also process 1,375 tonnes of grain at 14% moisture content per month because of its capability to dry corn on cob and grains even during rainy season.

The local government unit will construct the same structure in the towns of Trento and San Francisco, both of Agusan del Sur. To address the transport problem, trucks will be provided free for farms within a 15-kilometre radius from the centre.

The CPHPTC will ensure continuous supply of guaranteed premium quality corn in the province, said the governor. The provincial chief executive also sees the growing production of farmers especially those in far-flung areas.