High post-harvest losses remain to be among the major challenges faced by corn farmers in Ifugao province reducing the quality of produce. This is due to limited post-harvest facilities like warehouses to secure the crops primarily from unpredictable weather conditions.
Ifugao province, per the Dept. of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) records, has five major-corn producing areas namely Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Asipulo, Lagawe, and Lamut. Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista recorded the highest corn production with an average yield of 3.5 and 3.3 metric tons per hectare, according to the 2024 Corn Production Enhancement Project baseline. Thus, the DA-CAR pipelined seven corn warehouses in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to assist corn farmers in the major producing areas.
On March 19, the DA-CAR turned over two completed corn warehouses in Ifugao, particularly to the beneficiaries – Saranay Community Multi-purpose Cooperative in Potia, Alfonso Lista and the Mapaco-paco Farmers and Fisherfolks Association in Posnaan, Aguinaldo. These projects amounted to Php5.213 Million.
The corn warehouses will now serve as storage facilities for the consolidated corn produce to maintain its quality. Regional Corn Program Coordinator Gerardo Banawa added that the warehouse will also accommodate DA-CAR procured corn seeds set for distribution to local farmers in the municipalities especially so that it is along the main road.
Engr. Filemon Salvador, Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) Chief, thanked the partner-implementers and beneficiaries for their commendable efforts that enabled for the standard and on-time completion of said facilities.
“These turnover activities are important not only to justify our project implementations but for you to personally witness and accept the facility along with the responsibilities embodied in our Memorandum of Agreement,” Engr. Salvador said while emphasizing that the facilities be used as to purpose.
According to Engr. Marcial Bayodaoof RAED, the warehouses measuring at least 5 meters to 8.5 meters high (center) can accommodate about 20 tons of corn seeds. This is very helpful especially during the rainy season as the seeds need more time for solar drying. The benefitting Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) expressed their gratitude to all project implementers and partners for the assistance noting that with unity, more projects are not far from reality.
Shirley Dugyon-Atluna, manager of the Saranay MPC, also acknowledged the Ifugao State University for allowing them to use one hectare lot near the Potia campus for the warehouse building. The lot is covered by a 20-year Usufruct Agreement which is renewable in nature.
Seven corn warehouses were programmed under FY2024 and set for completion within this year. The remaining five facilities are located in Abra (1-completed), Mountain Province (1), Apayao (1), and Kalinga (2). By JBAgrifino
