Monday, May 21, 2007 S. Mindanao corn production seen to increase 1.5% By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE corn output in Davao Region from April to June this year is expected to rise by 1.5 percent according to the forecast of the provincial office of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
BAS said the increase in corn output could be attributed to the probable expansion in hectarage of corn in Davao Region by 2.9 percent.
Compostela Valley Province, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental may post production gains ranging from 0.8 percent to 79.3 percent in the second quarter.
BAS, on the other hand, said corn farmers in Davao City and in Davao del Sur will still be apprehensive about te changing weather conditions.
Meanwhile, for the third quarter, BAS forecasted that Davao Region will post an increase in corn production.
The region may produce a total of 139.54 metric tons of corn, higher by 72 percent compared to last year of the same quarter.
Davao del Sur, BAS said, will possibly post an output growth of 26.7 percent while Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental will post an increase by 2.8 percent and 25.2 percent in corn output, respectively.
The corn output in the region for the first quarter of 2007 is only recorded at 37 thousand metric tons or 8.8 percent lower than the figure in the same quarter in 2006.
BAS said there is a 12.6 decrease in hectarage of corn during the period.
Significant decreases were noted in Davao City by 12.7 percent and in Davao de Sur by 47.3 percent.
The decreases in the output were due to the excessive rains in Davao City and due to the late planting in Davao del Sur caused by dry spell.
Meanwhile, positive output in corn production was recorded in Compostela Valley by 24.5 percent, Davao del Norte, 9.8 percent, and in Davao Oriental by 8.5 percent.
