CORN producers in Western Visayas are bracing for the unavailable hybrid corn seeds due to a severe El Niño phenomenon that hit the country early until middle of this year.
The Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (Philmaize) believed that the best strategy to address this challenge in corn production is to provide farmers more corn seed types that they can choose from.
Philmaize President Roger Navarro said farmers can assess for themselves which seeds will grow best in their farms.
Thus, farmers should always be given the freedom to choose what they feel is best for them.
With a continually worsening El Niño, certain corn traits are needed to ensure increased yields and increased income in the coming harvest year.
Corn production is a needed industry in many parts of the provinces of Iloilo and Antique.
With the presence of corn mills in Iloilo, corn farmers continue to plant corn in achieving food security as it is a major component in the production of commercial animal feeds.
Among the areas planted to corn are the mountainsides of the municipalities of Sara, Ajuy, Banate, Leon, Alimodian, San Miguel, Tubungan, Igbaras, Miagao and San Joaquin in the province of Iloilo.
In the province of Antique, the areas planted to corn are in the municipalities of Tobias Fornier, Bugasong, Sebaste, Culasi, Patnongon, San Remegio, and Valderrama.
In 2015, the Philippines reached its target yield by maintaining the country’s self-sufficient status in yellow corn production.
In 2016, however, the country’s corn yield was affected by one of the most severe El Niño to hit the country in years, resulting to very low yields at harvest season.
For 2017, farmers worry that the country might experience more difficulty in corn harvests without certain Bt-corn hybrids available for planting this season.
Corn farmers are urging the Department of Agriculture to immediately approve the permits for corn traits that are still awaiting renewal, so that farmers can immediately avail of several corn varieties this planting season.
Corn varieties like MON89034 and NK603 that are resistant to corn borers, cutworm, and earworm which are prevalent during the dry season are especially preferred.
Without a corn crop’s ability to thrive around pests, an estimate of 24 percent, 14 percent, and 18 percent income loss out of the entire corn yield and farm production would be incurred from corn borer, earworm, and cutworm infestations, respectively. (LCP/Sunnex)