March 8, 2013

Philippines allocates US$22.8 million for corn industry support

In order to support the local corn industry, the Philippine government has earmarked US$22.8 million this year.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna, who heads the National Corn Programme, said of the total, about US$9.3 million will be used to mechanise corn farms, and some US$12.8 is set to provide post-harvest facilities to increase corn production.

For the mechanisation programme, the government will provide a tractor to a corn farmer cooperative covering a total clustered area of not less than 300 hectares, as well as corn planters to lessen the time it takes for farmers to plant corn.

Meanwhile, among the post-harvest facilities that will be given to small-scale corn farmers are grain dryers, cob dryers, shredders and corn silos. De Luna said the DA targets to reduce post-harvest losses to 10% this year from 12.5% in 2012.