March 11, 2009
Philippines cuts 2009 corn output target
The Philippine agriculture department has lowered corn its output target for 2009 to 7.3 million to 7.4 million tonnes from 7.8 million tonnes, a senior official said Tuesday (March 10).
"We learned our lesson last year. It's better to set a lower target and attain it," said the official, who asked not to be named.
In 2008, the department set a corn output target of 7.3 million tonnes and actual output reached only 6.93 million tonnes amid high fertiliser prices.
Based on a recent production survey, corn output in the first six months of the year is expected to decline 2.6 percent to 3.2 million tonnes amid unfavourable weather conditions.
"Fertiliser was a major factor in last year's (lower-than-expected) output. We're hoping that production will make a recovery in the second (half of 2009) now that fertiliser prices aren't as high," the official said.
Corn is a major component of animal and poultry feeds.
