Corn industry needs greater government support - Villar

To propel the competitiveness and expansion of the corn industry, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has sponsored Senate Bill No. 2625 under Committee Report No. 246, entitled "An Act to develop the Philippine Corn Industry, enhance the availability and affordable of quality feeds and staple food, and provide for a corn competitiveness enhancement fund".

"It is a crucial supplementary measure aligned with the objectives of the Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Industry Development Act which I earlier sponsored," said Villar.

"It is imperative that we also bolster the corn industry since it plays a pivotal role in sustaining our livestock and poultry industry and feeding our nation," she added. Livestock feed depends on inputs like corn, wheat, and soya. About 40% to 60% of animal feed consists of yellow corn.

The Philippines has a deficit of about 3 to 5 million metric tons (MT) of corn annually.

In 2023, the combined corn-livestock-poultry sector contributed 27.17% of gross value added in agriculture.

It provided livelihood opportunities to more than 1.28 million corn farmers, 2.8 million livestock and poultry farmers and thousands of other industry players.

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture said this underscores the impact of the industry on our economy, particularly on job creation, food security, and potentially on poverty alleviation.

"Yet despite its significance, the yellow corn industry faces its share of challenges that require greater government attention," related the senator.

Villar also said the proposed measure provides for the creation of the Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. This is in addition to the annual regular budget.

For 10 years, the Corn Fund shall consist of an annual P3 billion budget, which will come from tariff collection on imported corn, feed wheat, feeds and other products and ingredients for feeds.

"We propose that 80 percent of the Corn Fund shall be utilized for yellow corn, and 20% of the fund to white corn development and other indigenous corn varieties," she said. The fund shall be allocated as follows:

1. Forty percent (40%) for Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization in which the 23% shall be for post-production, 15% for mechanization of corn farms and 2% for its Program Management Office:

2. Twenty percent (20%) for Bureau of Plant Industry in its provision of seeds and fertilizers. The seeds should be produced by local Filipino farmers and registered with the Philippine Seed Board or National Seed Industry Council;

3. Twenty percent (20%) for the establishment and operations of the BPI Corn Unit and the field offices in corn producing provinces;

4. Ten percent (10%) for Agricultural Training Institute of DA for the extension and training activities and

5. Ten percent (10%) for the Bureau of Agricultural Research for corn applied research, and basic research.

According to Villar, even if our yellow corn productivity has increased at an average of 4.2 metric tons per hectare from 2018 to 2022, the Philippines is still lagging behind, ranking 8th among its neighboring countries in Asia.

The Philippines remains a net importer of yellow corn.

Kailangan ng Corn industry ang higit na government support- Villar

Upang itulak ang kumpetisyon at palawakin ang yellow corn industry, ini-sponsor ni Sen. Cynthia A. Villar ang Senate Bill No. 2625 sa ilalim ng Committee Report No. 246, na may titulong "An Act to develop the Philippine Corn Industry, enhance the availability and affordable of quality feeds and staple food, and provide for a corn competitiveness enhancement fund".

"It is a crucial supplementary measure aligned with the objectives of the Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Industry Development Act which I earlier sponsored," ayon kay Villar.

"It is imperative that we also bolster the corn industry. since it plays a pivotal role in sustaining our livestock and poultry industry and feeding our nation," dagdag pa niya.

Umaasa ang livestock feed sa mais, wheat at soya. Binubuo ng yellow corn ang may 40% - 60% ng animal feed.

Ang Pilipinas ay may deficit na 3 -5 million metric tons (MT) ng mais kada taon.

Noong 2023, ang pinagsamang corn-livestock-poultry sector sy nag-ambag ng 27.17% ng gross value added sa agrikultura.

Nagbigay ito ng kabuhayan sa mahigit 1.28 million corn farmers, 2.8 million livestock at poultry farmers at libo-libong iba pang industry players.

Tinukoy ng chairperson ng Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food ang dulot nito sa ating ekonomiya partikular sa hanapbuhay, seguridad sa pagkain at pagbawas sa kahirapan.

"Yet despite its significance, the yellow corn industry faces its share of challenges that require greater government attention," ani senador.

Ipinahayag din ni Villar na sa ilalim ng panukala, bubuo ng Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Idadagdag ito sa taunang regular na budget.

Sa loob ng 10 taon, ang Corn Fund ay may P3 billion budget kada taon. Ito ay magmumula sa tariff collection sa imported corn, wheat, feeds at iba pang produkto at sangkap sa feeds.

"We will not leave the white corn behind since the same is being used for human consumption. We are proposing the allocation of 20% of the fund to white corn development and other indigenous corn varieties," pahayag ni Vollar.

Ipinanukala rin na gagamitin ang 80 percent ng Corn Fund sa yellow corn na hahatiin gays ng sumusunod:

1. Forty percent (40%) sa Philippine Center for Postharvest Development at Mechanization kung saan 23% ay sa post-production, 15% sa mechanization ng corn farms at 2% sa Program Management Office;

2- Twenty percent (20%) sa BPI para sa seeds at fertilizers. Dapat ang mga buto ay gawa ng mga Pilipino at rehistrado sa Philippine Seed Board o National Seed Industry Council;

3. Twenty percent (20%) sa pagpapatayo at operasyon ng

BPI Corn Unit at field offices sa corn producing provinces;

4. Ten percent (10%) sa Agricultural Training Institute ng DA sa extension at training activities at

5. Ten percent (10%) sa Bureau of Agricultural Research para sa corn applied research at basic research.

Ayon kay Villar, kahit tumaas ang ating yellow corn productivity ng average na 4.2 metric tons kada ektarya mula 2018 - 2022 , napag-iiwanan pa rin ang Pilipinas. Pang walo lamang ang ating bansa sa produksyon ng mais kumpara sa ating mga

karatig na bansa Asya.

Nananatili ang Pilipinas na net importer ng yellow corn.