AKLAN, July 27, 2023 – With the country’s growing need for mixed feeds for livestock and poultry, yellow corn is becoming in demand, making it a viable crop to grow and a potential source of income for small-scale farmers, hence, Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2 started providing yellow corn production projects to two (2) farmer’s associations in Aklan. 

Beneficiaries of the FY 2023 Corn Production Project worth Php 693,500 are the Panayakan Lanipga Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PLMPC) in Barangay Panayakan, Tangalan with 30 members and Sapsapon Vegetable Growers’ Association (SVGA) in Barangay Tigum, Buruanga with 30 members, initially receiving inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, plastic drums, and various farm tools. 

In introducing the corn production projects, regional implementers used the baseline data from the local government unit and Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) results to make sure that livelihood interventions respond to the farmers’ needs. 

These assessments revealed that members of the two (2) associations have fertile lands suitable for cultivating corn. They have years of experience in corn farming with their yield being either kept for sustenance at home or sold to earn income. However, farmers often incur low productivity due to a lack of technical know-how and capital. Table 1. FY 2023 interventions received by PLMPC and SVGA

“Through provisions of agricultural inputs and equipment to our marginalized rural farmers, we help them to access technologies and knowledge as well as income-generating livelihoods which hopefully can improve the quality of their lives and their families,” said Operations, Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation (OPBME) Lead Ms. Sheryl Mae Gaylan.

Panayakan Lanipga Multi-Purpose Cooperative received 45 bags of inorganic fertilizer, five (5) liters of pesticides and herbicides, and various farm tools. This July to August, the group is set to receive 30 bags of corn seeds, among other remaining inputs and equipment. With a consolidated corn area of 30 hectares (ha), each participating member will individually plant the crop in their respective sloping regions.

With an expected communal planting area of seven (7) ha and a consolidated individual area of 23ha, Sapsapon Vegetable Growers’ Association members aim to plant the 30 bags of seeds they are about to receive by August.  They initially received 45 bags of inorganic fertilizer, five (5) liters each of pesticides and herbicides, and various farm tools from May to June. 

Prior to receiving the agricultural inputs, association officers and representatives went through training for yellow corn production on June 29, covering topics on land preparation, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, cultural management, and post-harvest and soil health and fertilizers computation. Corn specialists Rey Genine and Michelle Ann Ardeña from the Corn Banner Program of the DA Regional Field Office 6 served as the resource persons while SAAD technical staff Engr. Apple Joy Cobrador facilitated the training. 

Planting yellow corn in Aklan is profitable because its provincial farm gate price is higher, around Php 22 to Php 23 per kilogram (kg), compared to other commodities like unhusked rice or palay with a provincial prevailing price of Php 15 to Php 18 per kg and white corn at Php 17 per kg. This provides potential earnings of Php 80,000 per hectare (ha) of yellow corn for farmers. With proper planting techniques and good management, farmers can achieve good yields of yellow corn that has numerous uses for both animal feed and human consumption as it can be processed into different food products such as grits, flour, and tortilla chips. ###

Writer: Christ John Gamarcha, DA-SAAD Western Visayas Information Officer