November 1, 2024

 

Philippines allocates US$90.9 million to boost corn and soybean production in 2025

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to allocate PHP 5.31 billion (US$90.9 million) in 2025 to improve the production of key crops, including corn, and soybeans, intended for food, feed, and industrial use, The Freeman reported.

 

This initiative aims to provide farmers and other stakeholders with science-based resources and support services to enhance crop yield and production quality.

 

Through the National Corn Programme, the DA intends to use this budget to supply high-quality planting materials, fertilisers, training, post-harvest machinery, and small-scale irrigation projects. The goal is to reach 81% local production and increase yields of corn and cassava.

 

"Next year, the Department is targeting local production of at least 81% of total demand, aiming to achieve yields of 5.17 metric tonnes per hectare for yellow corn and 2.29 metric tonnes per hectare for white corn," Agriculture Secretary Francisco P Tiu Laurel Jr. stated. "Increasing white corn production will offer more food staple options, crucial for attaining food security."

 

These plans were announced at the 17th Philippine National Corn Congress, organised by the DA in collaboration with the Philippine Maize Federation Inc (PhilMaize) and other agencies. Hundreds of corn growers and stakeholders attended to discuss comprehensive plans addressing the corn industry's challenges, such as low productivity, low corn prices, limited access to advanced farming technology, and insufficient post-harvest infrastructure.

 

The Congress's theme emphasised the importance of cohesive policies among stakeholders to help the corn industry achieve its goals. Laurel reiterated the DA's focus on corn and cassava, noting that these commodities have been a priority for continuous improvement.

 

As part of these efforts, the Corn Production Enhancement Project was launched to boost corn productivity and national corn sufficiency. "The project provides seeds and fertilizers to eligible farmers, and as of August 2024, we have distributed over 1,700 metric tons of corn seeds and almost 6,000 metric tons of fertilisers," Laurel disclosed.

 

PhilMaize president Romualdo I Elvira Jr expressed appreciation for stakeholders' dedication to the corn industry. "The goal of every corn grower is to ensure a prosperous livelihood, shared by feed millers, traders, corn seed growers, and other industry stakeholders," he stated.

 

Representative Joey Salceda, represented by his chief of staff Joseph Yap, also voiced support for the corn industry's growth. Salceda presented a 10-point agenda for corn farmers, which included focused production and value chain development in major corn-producing regions, sufficient credit access for the sector, and enhanced supply chain coordination for fertilizers and other farming inputs in designated provinces.

 

The agenda also recommended setting up seed production and distribution centres at the provincial level, increasing national corn program funding through tariff flows, creating a national marketing program linking farmers to value chains, expanding manpower and training for farmers' managerial skills, and establishing credit facilities for farm machinery and equipment.

 

Additionally, Dr Artemio Salazar, vice chair of PhilMaize and chair of the White Corn Technical Committee, submitted the Philippine White Corn Industry Roadmap 2024-2029 to the DA. This roadmap aims to serve as a guiding document for the sector's future development.

 

-      The Freeman