Agriculture department to farmers: Plant corn early

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas is urging corn farmers to plant early and take advantage of the mild La Niña for the first six months of 2012 as the weather condition is most favorable to corn production.

In 2011, the region posted a total yield of 310,328 metric tons (MT) of yellow and white corn in a total of 122,240 hectares.

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For 2012, the agriculture department eyes a total of 325,025-MT corn production with an area of 125,221 hectares in the region.

Ricardo B. Saltin, Agri-Pinoy regional corn coordinator, said the 2011 record showed the province of Iloilo led the production of 164,733 MT; followed by Negros Occidental with 90,126 MT; Capiz, 47,150 MT; Antique, 4,752 MT; Aklan, 2,850 MT; and Guimaras, 717 MT.

Saltin said 242,627 MT of yellow corn produced last year were mainly used as feeds for poultry and livestock, while 67,701 MT of white corn were used as alternative staple foods of humans.

For the total area harvested, the province of Negros Occidental has the largest area with 59,810 hectares; followed by Iloilo with 43,984 hectares; Capiz, 14,823 hectares; Antique, 1,899 hectares; Aklan, 1,082 hectares; and Guimaras, 662 hectares. This comprised a total of 122,240 hectares harvested in Western Visayas.

Saltin said with early planting, the corn sufficiency level this year will increase, considering the low sufficiency level of 26 percent last year.

It must be noted that poultry and livestock sector in Western Visayas has a total demand of 660,273 MT and local corn production could not cope with the demand, Saltin added.

DA has provided post-production development services of two corn mills, one hammer mill, one village type corn dryer, six Hermetic Cocoons, 20,750 trichogramma cards and seven four-wheel tractors to local government units and farmer organizations. (Lydia C. Pendon)