January 8, 2007

 

Corn production dips 21% in Philippines' Central Mindanao

 

 

Corn production in Central Mindanao region in the Philippines dropped 21 percent in the third quarter of 2006 due to the abnormal weather conditions in the previous year, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

 

BAS regional chief Felixberto Pacate said that yellow and white corn harvested from July to September last year reached 346,754 metric tonnes (MT) as against 441,099 MT during the same period in 2005.

 

Pacate pointed the dry spell in 2005 was the main culprit as farmers moved the cropping season.

 

The province of South Cotabato was the region's top corn producer during the period with at least 152,595 MT, followed by North Cotabato at 101,056 MT, Sultan Kudarat at 53,107 MT and Sarangani at 38,101 MT.

 

Bacate also noted that the decrease was also partly due to the decrease in areas planted. In the third quarter of 2005, land devoted to corn was 161,991 hectares but went down to 134,544 hectares of the same period last year.

 

The declining corn production came amid government efforts to improve post-harvest facilities in the region.

 

The country's first ever modern post-harvest facility for corn, worth more than US$400,000, was inaugurated last August in Kabacan, North Cotabato to curb aflatoxin  or the build-up of mold in corn due to poor post harvest process.

 

Aflatoxin, at very high levels could result in biological disorders or even death on human and animals.

 

The government wants to reduce aflatoxin level in corn to 20 parts per billion.

 

Another P20million- post harvest facility is being constructed in Banga, South Cotabato is targeted to be launched in February.

 

Zaldy Boloron, regional corn coordinator of the Department of Agriculture said two more modern corn post-harvest facilities will be built, one in Malungon in Sarangani, and the other in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat.