The Department of Agriculture is considering exporting white corn grain to support the corn industry for the ASEAN integration by 2015.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that, the National Food Authority Council will determine if the country should export the staple based on the production data that will be submitted by the Inter-Agency Committee.

“We really need to export if the supply is more than sufficient for our needs. This would motivate farmers to harvest more and improve their economic conditions, “Alcala said.

The secretary expressed optimism that there will be higher volume of corn exports because of farm mechanization.

Alcala also said that production must be maintained as demand increases due to the growing livestock and poultry industry.

The Agriculture Department plans to invest heavily on infrastructure and postharvest facilities to prepare the corn industry for trade liberalization.

It aims to expand more corn areas for harvest to boost its competitiveness for 2015. The agency has already identified 300,000 hectares of coconut areas that can be intercropped with corn.

The country aims to produce 8.4 million to 8.7 million metric tons of corn this year.

The Philippine Maize Federation Inc. has been urging the NFA to allow it to export at least 400,000 MT of corn to take advantage of higher prices in the world market and to comply with the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization and the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

The Philippines has sent an initial shipment of 24 metric tons of corn silage for cattle to South Korea in May last year.

However, farmers consider silage as a low value crop that is only used as feed for cattle.*PNA

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