Iloilo's corn potentials high
The potentials of attaining self-sufficiency in corn are high for the province of Iloilo.
Dr. Ildefonso Toledo, Officer-in-charge of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), said the potentials are high based on vast area for corn production, projected to be 16, 927 hectares and only more or less 7,000 hectares have been tilled.
Toledo said there was a 20 percent increase in corn production in the province for 2007 and the average yield of 4.06 percent was even higher than the average national yield which was only about 3 percent.
Toledo also said there is the presence of eight feed mills in the province as well as the presence of poultry and piggery farms which demand an estimated 115,200 metric tons of corn feeds per year.
So far, corn production had only met 45 percent of the above requirement, hence PAO aims to set specific targets to reach a level of sufficiency.
Corn is the second major crop produced in the province, besides it being the main ingredient for poultry and livestock feeds.
Added to the great potentials for corn production are the strong support of the local government units (LGUs), the presence of credit and financing assistance from the LGUs themselves, private institutions and government financing institutions.
More than this, Toledo said, is the enthusiasm of farmers to embark on massive corn production.
He also said that the PAO aims to boost corn production in the province through provision of better production inputs, post harvest facilities, develop village entrepreneurship through easy access to information technology, strengthen marketing as well as access to credit.
The PAO has also recognized corn producers who have earned distinctions for their efforts, like the 2006 National Outstanding Quality Corn Farmer Awardee, Mrs. Florita Villanueva of San Dionisio, Iloilo, and the 2007 Regional Awardee for the same category, Mrs. Myrna Reyes of Passi city.
Meanwhile, the 5th National Congress is currently ongoing in Iloilo City where Investment Support to the Corn Industry will be among the topics to be discussed. (PIA 6/ESS)