December 27, 2007

Central Mindanao, still the Philippines' second biggest corn producer

Central Mindanao's expected corn output of 1.123 million tonnes by yearend still puts the region as the second top corn producer in the country, according to Bureau of Agricultural Statistics's (BAS) based on its figures released last week. 

The data, consisting of actual outputs in the first three quarters and advance estimates in the fourth quarter, puts the region at the same ranking last year when it produced 1.087 million tonnes of corn.

Cagayan Valley in Luzon is expected to be at the top, with a projected production volume of 1.302 million tonnes by yearend from an actual 1.223 million tonnes recorded last year.

Northern Mindanao is seen at third place, with a corn production volume of 1.039 million tonnes by yearend, up by 10.17 percent from the actual 943,205 tonnes recorded last year.

Zaldy Boloron, Department of Agriculture-Central Mindanao corn coordinator, attributed the projected growth rate of 3.3 percent this year to the establishment and operations of three government-run modern corn post-harvest and trading centres.

He said the increase is expected to provide P2.4 million in additional income to farmers concerned.

The post-harvest and trading centres are located in the towns of Kabacan in North Cotabato, Banga in South Cotabato and Malungon in Sarangani.

This year, the country's corn production is expected to total some 6.739 million tonnes with Mindanao, accounting for 55.65 percent at 3.750 million tonnes, BAS said.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is projected to record corn production of some 883,748 tonnes; Davao Region, 355,394 tonnes; Zamboanga peninsula, 220,377 tonnes; and Caraga region in eastern Mindanao, 128,792 tones.

Central Mindanao, which is estimated to have 434,000 hectares of land planted to corn tilled by at least 225,000 farmers, covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.