November 9, 2007

 

High grain prices to prompt more uptake of Bt corn in the Philippines

 

The Philippines is likely to continue planting genetically-modified Bt corn to boost local production and address a domestic production shortfall, which has been compounded by high grain costs in the global market, a senior agriculture official said Friday (November 9, 2007).

 

A five-year government authority issued by the agriculture department in December 2002 on the planting of Bt corn will expire early next month, and local farmers are seeking an extension, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Araullo, programme director for corn.

 

"We see no reason why we should not continue adopting the Bt corn technology. Adopting hybrid technology such as the Bt corn is the best strategy to address increasing local demand for corn," Araullo said.

 

Bt, or bacillus thuriengensis, corn is a genetically modified seed variety resistant to the corn borer pest, which damages up to 80 percent of infested corn farmlands.

 

So far this year, around 200,000 hectares of corn growing area have been planted to Bt corn, up from around 130,000 hectares in 2006.

 

The adoption rate for Bt corn has been steadily increasing in the Philippines, as farmers can generate higher yields compared to non-hybrid varieties, Araullo said.

 

Bt corn seeds yield as much as 10 tonnes/hectare, compared to a national average yield of only 3 tonnes/ha, he said.

 

Next year, more Philippine farmers are likely to use Bt corn to boost production and take advantage of rising grain prices.

 

Domestic prices are likely to rise to around PHP16-PHP17/kilogram next year, from around PHP13/kg currently, which is already double the average local price of PHP7-PHP8/kg a few years back, he said.

 

Rising domestic demand for corn due to prohibitively high global prices for grains such as corn and wheat will also guarantee higher prices for the yellow grain next year, Araullo said.

 

There would not be a domestic shortfall in yellow corn supply if Bt corn is used in about 500,000 hectares of the country's total corn-planting area of 1.2 million hectares, he said.