August 9, 2010

Group assures adequate corn supply in the Philippines

 
Corn producers in the Philippines guaranteed adequate corn supply for this year despite the delay in their harvest for the first half of the year.

Roger Navarro of the Philippine Maize Federation (Philmaize) optimistically projects a 4.8 million tonnes yellow corn harvest for the entire year.

However, Navarro admits a delay of corn harvest for the first half of the year due to drought brought about by the El Niño phenomenon earlier this year.

Navarro estimates that for Mindanao "we will most likely get (yellow corn) 1.8 million tonnes total this coming harvest."

Navarro said that harvesting is starting and will peak early September.

For Region II, Navarro estimates, the harvest "may be around 700,000 MT."

Based on those numbers, Navarro optimistically assured, "we can surely supply our local demand by then."

Navarro sid that based on his estimate, the yellow corn harvest for the delayed first half would be 2.6 million tonnes.

For the second half, Navarro expects a harvest of 2.2 million tonnes for a total harvest of 4.8 million tonnes for 2010.

Navarro's optimistic yellow corn production, he admitted is premised on an increase in planting for the next half.

As such, Navarro is maintaining a total corn production (yellow plus white corn production) for this year to range from a low of six million tonnes to a high of eight million tonnes.

The traditional yellow corn production, Navarro said, is between four to five million tonnes, while white corn production is estimated at between 2 and 3 million tonnes.

However, earlier this year, Philmaize had set a total corn production of 7.1 million tonnes, slightly lower than 2009's 7.3 million tonnes production.

Navarro tells that "production will just be OK" since the demand had not increase plus so much feedwheat came in, the reason why corn price has been steadily low in spite of the recent extended dry climate.

Navarro is referring to the projected 1.1 million tonnes feedwheat imports for this year.

Feedwheat is used by feedmillers as an alternative raw material to corn in the production of animal feeds.