The Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (PhilMaize) said the crafting of a corn industry road map is a step in the right direction, which it hopes would pave the way for the “full development” of the industry.
“We welcome this development and we just hope that our dreams and advocacy for the corn program of the Philippines will be included in the road map, such as establishment of post-harvest facilities,” PhilMaize President Roger V. Navarro told the BusinessMirror.
Navarro explained that the most crucial intervention that the domestic corn industry needs are post-harvest facilities, explaining that only 3 percent of farms have sufficient post-harvest facilities.
“We still need to cover 97 percent,” he added.
Navarro proposed that the road map should include the establishment of a Philippine Corn Industry Development Administration and the strict implementation of the Republic Act 7607 or the Magna Carta for Small Farmers.
“We should promote the creation of the Philippine Corn Industry Development Administration that will more or less monitor and manage the interventions for the corn industry,” he said.
Navarro also proposed the creation of a commodity exchange to complement the establishment of various post-harvest facilities nationwide. The commodity exchange, Navarro explained, would serve as a commodity trading platform that would “guarantee farmers’ income” by stabilizing prices and ensuring supply for end-users.
“We hope that the corn road map will open the full development for the industry, to guarantee farmers’ income, stabilize prices and supply, thereby guaranteeing the end-users’ input costs,” he said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said it is crafting a corn industry development road map that will outline interventions for boosting corn production amid rising demand for animal feed. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/09/06/improving-corn-yield-will-benefit-livestock-poultry-sectors-da/)
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the creation of a “strategic and robust” corn industry road map is necessary to provide long-term guidance for ensuring the sustained contribution of the corn sector to the meat value chain and the country’s food security.