October 30, 2024
Philippines sets ambitious targets for corn production to reduce import dependence
The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced plans to increase local production of corn to meet at least 81% of the country's domestic demand, BusinessWorld reported.
This initiative aligns with the government's broader strategy for food security and reducing dependency on imports.
In a statement, Philippines' Agriculture Secretary Francisco P Tiu Laurel, Jr. outlined specific targets for crop yields by 2025. The DA aims to achieve a yield of 5.17 metric tonnes (MT) per hectare for yellow corn and 2.29 MT per hectare for white corn.
The Philippines has traditionally relied on imports of yellow corn, soybeans, and sorghum as raw materials for animal feed production. Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasised the potential benefits of boosting domestic white corn production. "Increasing white corn production will provide more options for available food staples, essential for achieving food security," he said.
To support these targets, the DA has allocated approximately PHP 5.32 billion (US$91.3 million) for the National Corn Programme for the upcoming year. This funding will cover various agricultural support services, including planting materials, fertiliser, training programmes, post-harvest machinery, and small-scale irrigation projects.
"The programme aims to boost the production of quality corn, cassava, sorghum, and soybean for food, feed, and industrial use while empowering farmers and stakeholders with science-based interventions and support services," the DA statement read.
As part of its efforts to enhance corn production specifically, the DA is implementing the Corn Production Enhancement Project. This project provides seed and fertilisers to eligible farmers. By August 2024, the department had already distributed over 1,700 metric tons of corn seeds, in addition to nearly 6,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, according to Tiu Laurel.
In a complementary effort, the Philippine Maize Federation Inc has developed a White Corn Industry Roadmap aimed at increasing both the consumption and domestic supply of white corn.
- BusinessWorld