ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ramping up technology-driven interventions to narrow the country’s widening corn supply gap, as demand from the livestock industry outpaces local production by at least 4 million metric tons (MMT).
National Corn Program director Milo Delos Reyes underscored the urgency, revealing that the livestock sector needs around 10 MMT of corn annually, while local output hovers at just 6 MMT.
“We are intensifying the production of corn for next year. This year, we are supporting farmers by providing essential resources such as seeds, post-harvest facilities, fertilizers, and various interventions,” said Delos Reyes during the September 23 corn congress here.
He noted that national corn production has risen by 3 MMT over the past five years, but the supply gap remains significant. Regional disparities further complicate the situation—while some provinces produce surplus corn, others in the Visayas lag behind due to inadequate feed mills and infrastructure.
Delos Reyes identified Cebu and Iloilo as better positioned, with facilities that strengthen their feed supply chains. “Events like our corn congress are essential to energize farmers and encourage them to continue planting,” he said. “There is always economic potential in cultivating corn.”
In Western Visayas, DA regional executive director Dennis Arpia said innovative practices like intercropping corn after rice harvests are being explored, particularly in areas with limited irrigation during the dry season.
The region has about 47,000 hectares planted to corn, but Arpia stressed that productivity depends on “effective farm management and the implementation of modern agricultural technologies, including advanced post-harvest storage solutions.”
Among the innovations being promoted are high-yield corn varieties, bio-fertilizers, integrated pest management, and improved soil conditioning methods—all seen as critical for sustainable production.
DA Undersecretary for Operations and Agri-Fisheries Mechanization Roger Navarro meanwhile called for a unified effort, stressing that “corn is a pivotal component in the agricultural landscape and food security strategy of the Philippines.”
The three-day congress hosted by DA-6, in partnership with the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc., gathered 500 corn farmers and stakeholders from across the Visayas. The event aimed to strengthen collaboration among farmers, government agencies, and the private sector, and to accelerate the adoption of modern agricultural technologies in support of national food security./PN
