In line with the National Corn and Feed Crops program of the Department of Agriculture, DA-Cordillera conducted an assessment planning and workshop with the Provincial Corn Coordinators representing the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province to come up with plans that will improve program implementation.
DA-CAR Regional Corn Coordinator Gerardo Banawa explained the planning workshop is a venue for the department to assess and review the corn programs implemented in 2023, to come up with plans for 2024, and for the workshop to be the basis for budget funding for 2025, from production, machinery, to irrigation based on the needs of municipalities in support the yellow and white corn production.
“Our workshop was created for us to do a review of our accomplishments for 2023 even as we ranked fifth among other regions in the country. Our region registered the lowest percentage in terms of the decreased yield at 3.35 percent, placing us at 15 among other regions due to the effects of previous typhoons despite ranking fifth in production nationwide,” Banawa said.
The national banner programs of DA on rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and organic agriculture are priority programs that aim to address food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth through increased farm income and productivity.
The programs are implemented nationwide and consist of Production Support Services; Market Development Services; Extension Support, Education, and Training Support Services, Research and Development; Irrigation Network Services; and Provision of Agricultural Equipment and Facilities.
DA-CAR Assistant Division Chief of the Field Operations Division Beverly Pekas recognized the contribution of the Provincial Corn Coordinators in implementing the different corn programs in the region.
“One of the criteria is the physical financial obligation and disbursement, in terms of performance and accomplishment, we are far ahead among other regions except for the previous typhoons that affected our yield. We rank fifth among all the regions nationwide and the performance of the regional farm program is your performance as partners in the implementation of projects,” Pekas stated.
The Philippines is 97 percent sufficient in rice with a 118 kilos per capita consumption. The department plans to reduce the country’s consumption of rice and encourage Filipinos to consider corn as an alternative.
The DA-CAR Corn program budget for 2024 is at P236 million, while the proposed budget for 2025 is at P274 million.
Updates on the Civil Society Organization and RSBSA registration, FAW and other corn/cassava pest/ disease infestation, El Nino phenomenon and PDNA-FOD DRRM, Corn AMEFIP interventions, NAMIN and Municipal ordinance registration of agricultural machinery and equipment, corn and cassava training under the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI), the status of the Corn Productivity enhancement project, Corn program directions and strategies, provincial plan and budget proposal presentation, fuel assistance project, and concerns on the PhilMais were among the areas discussed during the three-day planning workshop. By JTLlanes