Monday, October 09, 2006
Another post harvest facility opens in C. Mindanao; 2 more eyed
KORONADAL CITY -- Efforts of the National Government to enhance supply of premium corn quality in Central Mindanao region are now in full swing following the construction of a second modern post harvest facility which started last month.
Zaldy Boloron, regional corn coordinator of the Masaganang Ginintuang Ani program of the Department of Agriculture, said construction works for the post-harvest facility in Banga, South Cotabato had already begun.
"We expect the facility to be completed in two to three months," said Boloron.
The project costs at least P20 million and is located at a 5,000 square meter lot in Barangay Reyes of the town.
Late last August, the agriculture department launched the country's first-ever completed modern post harvest facility for corn in Kabacan, North Cotabato.
Two more corn post harvest facilities are up for construction in Central Mindanao region, one each for Malungon in Sarangani and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat.
The establishment of the modern post-harvest facilities is spearheaded by the state-owned National Agribusiness Corp under the Agriculture department.
Mario Aporada, National Agribusiness roving project manager, said the post harvest facility would reduce aflatoxin contents in corn, a problem hounding farmers for years.
Aflatoxin is caused by the buildup of molds in corn due to improper or poor post harvest facilities. The government wants to produce quality corn at 20 parts per billion aflatoxin level.
"The problems of our farmers are really on drying their corn. When using traditional drying method, aflatoxin could build up in three to four days. The project aims to address this deficiency so we can really produce good quality of corn," he stressed.
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