November 13, 2007

 

Philippine's 07 corn output could rise 13 percent on year
 

 

Philippine corn output in 2007 could reach 6.9 million tonnes, up 13 percent from a year earlier, barring any strong typhoons for the remainder of the year, a senior agriculture official said Tuesday (November 13, 2007).

 

The latest projection is 200,000 tonnes higher than the department's earlier production estimate of 6.7 million tonnes for 2006.

 

Production alone in the first nine months of the year has already reached 6.57 million tonnes, an 8 percent increase from last year's output of 6.08 million tonnes, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Araullo, the department's programme director for corn.

 

"We're assured of production of at least 6.7 million tonnes. Without any major typhoons in major (corn) areas, we're hoping production will reach 6.9 million tonnes," Araullo said.

 

The country's weather bureau had earlier predicted that strong typhoons could hit the country towards the end of the year.

 

For 2008, the department has set a target of producing 7.4 million tonnes of corn, as around 170,000-200,000 hectares of additional farmland should be planted with corn by next year, he said.

 

But stronger corn prices may lead local farmers to expand their corn areas, which could lead the department to set a higher target, he said.

 

To encourage massive expansion in corn areas, the department will be providing a PHP1,200 ($28) a hectare seed subsidy for local farmers.

 

"New areas will be our priority in the subsidy programme. It's better to support local farming than import, since global corn prices are too high" he said.

 

Industry experts have predicted that local corn prices could rise to PHP15 a kilogramme from the current PHP13/kg, he added.