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ILOILO – Corn farmers found a way to convert corn wastes into useful materials and make them an additional source of income.
Around 30 farmers from Santa Barbara town are on board the second phase of the “Skills Training on Corn Husk-based Craft-making and Utilization.”
The Department of Agriculture Region 6 is facilitating the training under Professor Eva S. Montero, director of the Research and Development Services and manager of the Farmer Information and Technology Service center of the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College – Batad campus.
“We are encouraging farmers to utilize most out-of-the-corn wastes because usually these are being burned after harvest,” Montero explained when Phase II of the training started on Wednesday, April 26.
Agricultural wastes after the harvest — corn husk, stalk, flowers and almost every part of corn — may be made into something creative, she said.
“If you will dye them with assorted colors, you will see that raw materials can already look attractive. How much more if they are converted into something useful?” she said.
Phase II of the three-phase training is focused on corn husk dyeing; product manipulation; and flower, angel dolls, garland, and floral head wreath-making.
Aside from rice, corn is considered a major product in Iloilo.
In 2016 the province had 25,230 hectares planted to corn, while production reached 89,246 metric tons, Philippine Statistics Authority data showed.
Montero assured that “market (for the products) is not a problem.”
Poinsettia flowers may be used for the Christmas season, while the floral head wreath may be used by flower girls instead of artificial flowers, she said.
Montero disclosed that her corn husk garland made a good impression on World Bank delegates during a recent climate change conference in Manila.
“They can hardly believe that from a totally zero, waste value, it was converted into something useful and attractive,” she said.
Montero also found a market for such products during a Department of Trade and Industry-organized event in Cebu. “I was surprised when exporters started coming in,” she said.
Phase I was focused on the basics, while Phase III, slated in May, will tackle more intricate projects like bags and fruit trays. (PNA)
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