October 6, 2025
Philippines sets sights on higher corn yields
The Philippine Department of Agriculture aims to boost domestic corn production to address the supply shortfall.
Milo Delos Reyes, director for the National Corn Programme said that the livestock sector needs more or less 10 million metric tonnes (MMT), and so far, the production is around six MMT.
"We are intensifying the production of corn for next year, and this year, we are helping farmers by providing seeds, post-harvest, fertilizer, and other interventions," Delos Reyes said at the sidelines of the recently held 18th National Corn Congress-Visayas Cluster in Iloilo City.
Delos Reyes said there is a need to intensify corn planting to balance the supply and demand.
He added that for the last five years, the national production increased by three MMT.
While there are surplus regions, there are also areas that produce less, like in the Visayas, where there are no feed mills like those in Cebu and Iloilo.
"We have Corn Congress like this to encourage the enthusiasm of farmers to continue planting. There is always money in planting corn," he said.
In Western Visayas, Agriculture Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia said they are exploring planting corn after rice in areas without adequate irrigation during the dry season.
Western Visayas has around 47,000 hectares of corn plantation.
He said it is also important to consider farm management and the adoption of technology, like post-harvest and storage facilities.
Currently, good varieties are being introduced, better support for farmers, and adoption of other technologies like bio-fertiliser and enhanced soil condition, and integrated pest management.
Around 500 corn farmers and stakeholders in Visayas are in Iloilo for the Visayas cluster congress, held in collaboration with the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc., until Thursday.
The three-day event hoped to foster stronger partnerships among farmers, government agencies, and the private sector; promote wider adoption of modern technologies; and heighten awareness of the economic role of corn in regional and national development.
- Philippine News Agency
