ILOILO CITY – The Department of Agriculture wants to intensify corn production to address the shortfall in supply, even as the demand for feeds from the livestock sector has risen.
The livestock sector requires approximately 10 million metric tons (MMT) of corn, a primary ingredient in animal feed production. Still, current production has remained at six MMT, according to National Corn Program Director Milo Delos Reyes, who spoke at a press conference on Tuesday.
“We are intensifying the production of corn for next year (2026), and this year, we are helping farmers by providing seeds, post-harvest, fertilizer, and other interventions,” Delos Reyes said at the sidelines of the 18th National Corn Congress-Visayas Cluster in Iloilo City.
Delos Reyes said corn planting should be intensified to balance the supply and demand.
Delos Reyes added that for the last five years, the national production has increased by three MMT. While there have been surplus regions, there have also been areas producing less than they used to, such as many parts of the Visayas, without feed mills like those in Cebu and Iloilo, he said.
“We have corn congresses like this to encourage farmers to continue planting. There is always money in planting corn,” he said.
In Western Visayas, Agriculture Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia said they have been considering the planting of corn after rice in areas without adequate irrigation during the dry season.
Western Visayas has approximately 47,000 hectares of cornfields.
He said the DA has also been helping corn producers improve their farm management and adopt new technologies, such as post-harvest and storage facilities.
He added that the DA has been introducing good varieties; improving support systems for farmers; and promoting new technologies like bio-fertilizer, enhanced soil condition, and integrated pest management.
Around 500 corn farmers and stakeholders in Visayas are in Iloilo for the Visayas cluster congress, held in collaboration with the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc., until Thursday, September 25, for the corn congress. (PNA)
