By Pearl Gumapos
Corn is the second-most important crop in the Philippines. Around 600,000 farm households depend solely on corn as their source of livelihood.
Department of Agriculture (DA) National Corn Program Director Milo delos Reyes on Sunday (March 20) says corn production during the pandemic was slightly lacking.
“Ang corn production natin for 2021 ay tumaas ang ating ani sa kabuoan. Nagtala tayo ng 8.3 million metric tons. Iyong ating produksiyon, kahit po mataas, ay medyo kulang po. Kaya kailangan pa ring mag-import tayo para masapatan natin iyong pangangailangan ng feed millers,” delos Reyes said.
According to delos Reyes, it was during Sec. William Dar’s term that they recorded the most number of corn harvested at 8.3 million metric tons.
“Sa history ng DA, sa panahon ni Sec. Dar, diyan po nag-register na pinakamataass na ani ng mais. Iyon pong yellow corn natin ay umabot sa 6.06 million metric tons at iyong white corn ay umaabot sa 2.24 million metric tons.”
Yellow corn is that which is being processed by feed millers and is being mixed with food for pigs and chickens.
50% of the feed for pigs and chickens is yellow corn, while the white corn is that which is being eaten by people.
Delos Reyes added that corn production accounts for P114 billion to the gross value added in agriculture in the country.
Watch the full program here:
