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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the University of the
Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc. (UPLBFI) have inked an
agreement to delivaer P15-million worth of high-quality,
open-pollinated white corn seeds and other legumes to small farmers
in time for the wet planting season this May, in a bid to further
increase harvests this year and up incomes in the countryside.
Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo said the
UPLBFI will give 21,700 bags of open-pollinated varieties of white
corn seeds; 5.3 tons of assorted seeds of vegetables and legumes;
and 500,000 root crop seeds to small farmers growing corn,
vegetables, root crops and legumes nationwide as part of the DA’s
hunger mitigation initiatives.
“Our agreement with the UPLB Foundation will
help raise productivity, alleviate hunger and also revitalize the
DA’s partnerships with knowledge and research institutions in
utilizing modern agricultural technologies for the benefit of small
farmers,” said Araullo who is concurrent national coordinator of
the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Corn Program.
Under the agreement, the DA will earmark P15
million for the production and delivery by the UPLBFI of the
open-pollinated seed varieties.
As of the third quarter last year, the corn
sector reached a growth of 9.5 percent, with an equivalent
production of 5.29 million metric tons.
Northern Mindanao produced a total of 535,000 MT
of corn in the third quarter, followed by Central Mindanao or
SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos
City area) with 469,000 MT, and Cagayan Valley with 380,900 MT.
-- Ira Karen Apanay
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