December 7, 2012

Corn farmers in the Philippines have asked the government to help them cut their losses from crops damaged by Super Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha).

Philippine Maize Federation (PhilMaize) president Roger Navarro said in an interview that they have asked the National Dairy Authority first but the agency want the purchase to undergo under a bidding process. But the group said the procedure would be too long as the commodity is already compromised, hence, their case should be treated as "emergency purchase".

Navarro added the farmers need to find a way how to manage finances and they cannot replant unless they have enough capital to start again.

Based on early estimates, PhilMaize reported at least 30,000 hectares of corn farms in Central Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental were damaged and that most of the crops were still in the early vegetative stage and some in the reproductive stage.

At this stage, the PhilMaize head said the corn cannot be acceptable to corn traders and feed millers. However, the crop is very desirable to the dairy industry for silage, he added.

Silage is fodder converted through anaerobic acid fermentation into succulent feed for livestock.