With corn sufficiency at just 57 percent in 2022, the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. (PAFMI) said twin moves by the government would help ensure a balanced supply of feeds for poultry and livestock growers.
PAFMI was referring to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Corn Production Enhancement Project which aims to increase the yield per hectare of yellow corn by 3 percent a year and the extension until the end of the year of lower tariffs on imported corn through Executive Order 10, at 5 percent in quota and 15 percent out quota.
PAFMI said the country needs a strong industry-based corn development program to support its increasing demand for the grain.
The group composed of more than 30 feed milling companies in the country said that imported corn volumes have continued to rise over the last decade as local corn harvests are unable to keep up with demand.
Corn is an integral ingredient in the manufacture of feeds for the livestock and poultry industry.
Citing the latest 2022-2023 Corn Supply Outlook published by the National Corn Program, local feed corn sufficiency last year was only at about 57 percent, leaving feed millers to resort to importations.
This year, the DA sees local corn produce for feeds to reach 7.56 million metric tons (MT), of which 6.35 million MT would go to animal feed mix.
PAFMI said even without any typhoons that could affect harvest, production volume will not be enough.
“This supply sufficiency gap between imported and local corn needs to be substantially trimmed to single digits to insulate the country from the adverse effects of any tight global supply of grains, which ultimately impinges on the nation’s food security and leaves the country vulnerable to global supply imbalances,” PAFMI said.
Earlier this month, DA issued a memorandum order setting the guidelines in the implementation of a corn production enhancement program that will provide free seeds and fertilizers to qualified farmers.
DA will provide a package of 18 kg of genetically modified or hybrid corn seeds or 20 kg of improved open-pollinated variety corn seeds, alongside 2 bags of inorganic fertilizers per hectare of corn area.
