Philippines' seed company develops three hybrid corn varieties

 

 

Three new corn varieties are being developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines, the country's largest developer, producer and distributor of hybrid corn seeds, to meet the demands of the country's corn farmers.

 

Currently on the research pipeline of the seed company are corn varieties that are drought-resistant, corn that would increase ethanol yield, and corn with nitrogen use efficiency trait.

 

Ethanol could be used independently or added to gasoline to cut down on polluting emissions with energy comparable to that of gasoline.

 

Ethanol-rich corn would increase farmers' profitability besides reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels.. All this has lately driven several corn ethanol-producing companies in the US to invest in the Philippines.

 

Some though would only embark provided they got a biofuel-friendly policy in place. Pioneer was however keen on developing a market for the product, said Jet Parma, the company's country manager.

 

However, to ensure that the country meets its targeted ethanol supply in the next five to 10 years, the agriculture sector must raise productivity to meet demand and have a surplus.

 

A hybridisation rate of 15 percent per year by the end of 2008 would ensure enough corn supply to meet local demand as well as supply ethanol production, said Parma.

 

Besides the need for developing alternative sources of energy, there was also a need to create a right policy environment, felt Parma.

 

A biofuels act, he said would be a boost as that would lure farmers to plant more ethanol-producing crops like corn.

 

The recent introduction of the pest-resistant Bt corn improved farmers' yield with many harvesting between 4 and 5 tonnes per hectare and some even got 9 to 10 tonnes per hectare.

 

With the production of corn for ethanol production, the price of corn specifically planted for the purpose could go up, providing farmers better incomes while keeping corn for food and feeds affordable in the market.

 

Only about 25 per cent of the total corn area, or 600,000 hectares in the Philippines, was planted to hybrid corn varieties, noted Parma.

 

With 1.8 million hectares still available for hybridisation, the country was likely to achieve corn self-sufficiency.