Manila, The Philippines
January 17, 2008
The
Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
University of the Philippines
Los Baños Foundation Inc. (UPLBFI) are embarking on a program to
deliver 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.
In a report to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Assistant
Secretary Dennis Araullo said the Department and the UPLBFI have
inked an agreement covering the production and delivery by the
UPLBFI, through the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), of 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.
Araullo, who is concurrent national coordinator of the
Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Corn Program, said these seeds
will then be distributed 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 on
utilizing modern agricultural technologies for the benefit of
our small farmers,” Araullo said.
Under the agreement, the DA will earmark P15 million for the
production and delivery by the UPLBFI of the open pollinated
seed varieties. The DA will also monitor the target production
sites and check on the delivery of the seeds.
The UPLBFI, through the IPB, will produce and deliver to the DA
the required seeds for white corn, legumes, vegetables and root
crops; disburse the funds; and assist the Department in
monitoring the delivery and performance of the seeds.
Araullo said the DA and UPLBFI have chosen to produce open
pollinated seeds because farmers can use these varieties for
replanting.
The production and delivery of the seeds would be done in time
for the next wet season planting this May, he said.
As of the third quarter last year, the corn sector reached a
growth of 9.5%, 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. |
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