December 23, 2013

Philippine's Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to improve the country's corn self-sufficiency in 2014 and will develop the grain as the primary crop for trade by 2015.

"The Philippines has a competitive edge in corn production over neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, which are highly dependent on the US for their corn imports," said agriculture secretary, Proceso J. Alcala, on December 17.

Due to progressive cultivation methods, the country can produce corn all-year-round, which is a definite advantage over other Asean countries, Alcala said.

He said that areas for white-corn production will be expanded in the Visayas and Mindanao, as the DA would want to ensure that corn-grits production during lean months is sustained and will add to the inventory.

The department is in the process of securing quality seeds, in preparation for the lean months, which begin in July. Doing so will ensure a stable supply of corn grits, the DA official added. However, he declined to give definite percentages of growth target for corn, as stakeholders are still in the process of consolidating their plans for next year.

"The continuing increase in livestock production and the resulting higher demand for corn-based feeds is another reason we are increasing our corn output for the coming years," Alcala added.

The government, for its strategy, is investing on infrastructure facilities for post-harvest, like corn-in-cob dryers and storage silos, to attain the country's target for corn self-sufficiency, Alcala said. He also added that research is continuing for the improvement of inbred corn varieties, as well as for the commercial corn hybrid seeds.

The DA secretary has recently instructed the National Food Authority (NFA) to conduct a market survey for corn-grits demand. The demand poll will cover Metro Manila, with its growing number of residents originally coming from the other two major island grouping of the country.

NFA-accredited retailers can also sell corn grits at the port areas, Alcala added.