Monday, December 22, 2008 W. Mindanao 3rd quarter corn production drops
THE production of corn, both white and yellow, of Zamboanga Peninsula registered a decrease during the third quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.
The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) attributed the decrease to the significant number of farmers who shifted to planting other crops due to the high cost of fertilizers needed to grow corn.
The NSCB said the farmers opted to plant cassava, mongo and peanuts since they don't need fertilizers to grow these crops.
This year's third quarter production of corn of the region has registered a decrease of 24.88 percent for white corn, while 26.54 percent decline for yellow corn compared to the production of the same period last year.
Three areas in the region contributed to the decrease, with Zamboanga del Norte posting the lowest at 74.92 percent, Zamboanga City at 13.04 percent and Zamboanga Sibugay at 52.49 percent.
Zamboanga comprises of the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, Pagadian and Zamboanga.
The decrease in area planted to corn and frequent occurrence of rain, which is not favorable for corn farming, also contributed to the less production, the NSCB said.
Three places also contributed to the decrease in the production of yellow corn with Zamboanga Sibugay posting the lowest by 91.83 percent, followed by Zamboanga del Norte at 77.88 percent and Zamboanga City 26.30 percent. (Bong Garcia)
