Cagayan de Oro City (04/14/08) – A total corn production of 1,048,344 metric tons valued at Php1.019 billion have been noted in Northern Mindanao, last year.

This volume of production was 8.71% higher compared to 964,327MT in 2006 and its value 14.05% higher than Php836,079,967 in the same period, Regional Executive Director Lealyn Abellanosa-Ramos of the Dept. of Agriculture, region 10, said.

Data gathered by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in the region show production of yellow corn increased from 595,368MT to 690,085MT or 15.91%, while its value, also increased from Php5,346,404.64 to Php6,673,121.95 or 24.82%.

Production of white corn, however, dropped from 368,959MT to 358,259MT or a negative 2.90% even if its value increased from Php3,014,395.03 to Php3,113,270.71 or 3.28%

Farm gate prices of both also posted average increases, during the period, from Php8.17 to Php8.69 or 6.36% for white corn and Php8.98 to Php9.67 or 7.68% for yellow corn.

“The improvement in corn yield could be attributed to more usage of hybrid and OPV seeds and minimal occurrence of pests and diseases,” Ramos said.

Meanwhile, an 11.19% increase, from 2.55MT/ha. to 2.83MT/ha. in corn yield have been posted by the region, also last year. Particularly, yellow corn yielded a 9.42% increase, from 3.29MT/ha. to 4.15MT/ha. and white corn, from 1.67MT/ha. to 1.76MT/ha. or 5.56%.

Ramos, however, said there was a slight decrease in the area harvested to corn which went down from 378.27 to 369.839 hectares or 2.23%, Again, the area planted to white corn decreased from 221.275 ha. to 203.534 ha. or negative 8.02% while yellow corn posted an increase, from 156.998 ha. to 166.305 ha. or 5.93%.

On the other hand, considering an estimated population (EP) of 4,127,829 and a per capita consumption (PCC) of 30.78kg./year, the corn sufficiency level (CSL) of the region was placed at 208.58%.

Lanao del Norte with an EP of 938,014 and a PCC of 25.58 kg./yr. posted the highest CSL of 549.46%, followed by Camiguin with an EP of 79,745 and a PCC of 2.5 kg./yr. or a CSL of 204.99%.

Misamis Occidental with an EP of 536,658 and a PCC of 29.8 kg./yr. posted a CSL of 154.46% while Misamis Oriental, with an EP of 1,284,062 and a PCC of 17.73 kg./yr. posted a CSL of 148.86% and Bukidnon with an EP of 1,289,350 and a PCC of 41.76 kg./yr, the lowest CSL of 98.06%. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob, Philippine Information Agency 10)