March 23, 2005

Philippines' Mindanao sees more usage of biotech corn

Just 2 years after commercialization of "genetically engineered bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) corn" by the Philippines, the farm areas in Mindanao planted with these types of corns have reached 6,700 hectares as of January 2005.

In spite of oppositions by environmentalists and religious heads, the farmers continue to adopt the technology.

Farmers in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and in this city, which comprise the Socsksargen growth area, have so far gone ahead in terms of the adoption of the technology with Bt corn areas now reaching at least 4,500 hectares.

Growth of Bt corns is steadily rising even though it is less adopted compared with farmers in Luzon.

Luzon farmers now account for more than half of the country's Bt corn area, which are concentrated mainly in central and northern region of Luzon

Farmers who are using Bt corn could well gain as much as 40 per cent increase in yield as compared to the conventional and hybrid varieties.

Monsanto's Bt corn, branded as "YieldGard Corn Borer", proved to be the first biotech food crop to be approved in Asia for commercial use.

Most small Filipino farmers benefited because the crop was planted on 54,000 hectares as of 2004.

The Bt corn commercialization faced tough resistance from environmentalist, religious groups and local farmers on account of health risk and environmental hazards.