March 17, 2008
Corn production in the first quarter is forecast to exceed 2.2 million tonnes, up 25.4 percent from 1.7 million tonnes in 2007, due to a shift in planting focus.
This figure that came from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-Corn Program (GMA-Corn Program) exceeds the government's target of 2.1 million tonnes and the 8.1 percent growth targeted by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.
Corn production in January-February 2008 reached 1.2 million tonnes and production for March is forecast to reach 1.1 million tonnes.
The growth areas would be the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Autonomous Region and SOCCSKSARGEN, according to GMA-Corn Program director Dennis Araullo.
He cited positive prices, good weather conditions and an increase of biofuel production as encouraging factors for farmers to shift to corn production.
Rice farmers had also turned to corn farming, and many farmers in Iloilo had expanded corn-planting areas, prompting a significant conversion of unused land.
Farmers in the municipality of Sara in Iloilo had also shifted to using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn from the traditional varieties as the herbicide-tolerant Bt-corn guarantees higher yield and income, according to Rosalie Ellasus, president of PhilMaize.
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