Agri office holds training on corn production

AT LEAST 100 agricultural technicians from the Department of Agriculture (DA) here in Zamboanga Peninsula and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) have completed a three-day training on Good Agricultural Practices for White Corn, Promotion of Corn for Health and Corn Quality Standard in Zamboanga City.

DA Chief Agriculturist Candido Damo said the training, which started Wednesday and ended Friday, is geared towards exportation of corn.

Damo said they have tackled during the three-day training the good production and storage practices aim to produce quality corn.

This include the importance and status of corn quality in the Philippines; updates in the corn industry; record keeping; procedure and importance of soil sampling, fertilizer, pesticides, pre-harvest practice, harvesting and post harvest practice; corn seed selection; farm structure and facility maintenance; corn as food; and, health benefits of corn.

Damo said the training is aimed to increase and improve the quality of the corn production since the country will export its produce once there is a production surplus.

Definitely, there will be no problem in the international markets once the corn production is of good quality.

Meanwhile, Damo said Zamboanga Peninsula still experienced a deficit in yellow corn though there is an increase in its production.

Zamboanga Peninsula still has a surplus on white corn though 35 percent of the population is eating white corn, Damo said.

Yellow corn is being used to produce feeds while white corn is being consumed and used for food. (Bong Garcia)