March 28, 2007

 

Mindanao corn growth depends on the development of halal industry

 

 

In order to sustain corn production in Mindanao, the Philippine Department of Agriculture wants the halal industry to be developed to for as the region contributes more than half of the country's corn output.

 

Clayton Olalia, in charge of the national halal program, said a "surefire way" to keep up corn production is the establishment of halal feed mills in strategic places in Mindanao and make the area the country's center for halal production.

 

The "stability of corn production in terms of price and benefits for farmers is dependent on the viability and sustainability of the livestock and poultry program," he added.

 

Corn accounts for 47 percent to 58 percent of the poultry or livestock feed mixture and Mindanao corn usually comes back to local feed millers expensive because majority of the feed millers are located in Luzon with high transportation costs.

 

Olalia urged producers to seriously look at the estimated US$580- billion global halal market, pointing out that even on a 1 percent market share, the Philippines can earn US$5.8 billion from halal products.

 

By food safety standards, halal is considered a quality-control system in itself, putting emphasis on "critical control points" involving the hygienic and disease-free preparation of food.

 

The halal seal on food and nonfood products informs Muslim consumers that the product is free from any haram or pork, lard from swine, and alcohol.

 

There are at least 1.48 billion Muslim consumers all over the world, with major markets for halal-certified food being the US, the Middle East, Singapore and Hong Kong, and East ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Growth Area which covers Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

 

The local halal industry, however, has yet to come up with a single national halal certifying agency, hindering growth.

 

Corn production last year reached 6.14 million metric tonnes, of which Mindanao contributed more than half at a volume of 3.7 million metric tonnes, Agriculture department data showed.