November 21, 2003

Philippines To Push For More Corn Planting
 

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has urged farmers, feedmillers and livestock raisers to plant more areas with corn to take advantage of high demand and prices in the local market.

DA regional director Fe Laysa said corn farming would be much more profitable this season due to good corn prices coupled with favorable weather in the later part of the year as forecast.

Laysa said this is aside from the needed boost the industry is getting due to the timely interventions of the government such as release of calamity funds for seed procurement, intensified seed dispersal program and information campaign.

The DA official expressed optimistic corn prices will further escalate due to ban on imports of corn.

The current corn price nationwide ranges from P7- P7.25 per kilo significantly higher than the P6 per kilo price during the second quarter.

But in the province of Albay and Camarines Sur, the prevailing corn prices are higher ranging P7.80 - P8 per kilo and P8- P9 per kilo, respectively.

As part of the implementation of Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Corn program, the DA here is also currently conducting a School-on-the-Air (SOA) on Corn.

The SOA aims to increase awareness, knowledge and adoption of corn farmers on the latest and improved technologies for productive and sustainable corn production, she said.