Agusan del Sur top in quality corn production in the country
Agusan
del Sur is reaping another national award by topping with four other provinces the
Search for Quality Corn Production all over the country conducted by the Department
of Agriculture (DA).
The province was cited for its outstanding
performance in producing premium quality corn.
The other awardees are Pangasinan, Isabela,
Occidental Mindoro and Misamis Oriental.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Jessica Unson,
the awarding rites will be held on October 23 at Tagaytay City with Agriculture
secretary Proceso Alcala personally handing over to Governor Eddiebong Plaza an
incentive of P3-million worth of project grants which will further boost the
province’s corn production program.
Agusan del Sur bested the provinces of Davao
del Sur and Compostela Valley which are also known major corn producers in this
part of Mindanao.
The department’s selection criteria are based
on technical requirements of the quality and safety of corn grains which should
comply with the minimum of Grade No. 3 and the record of yield for the past
three years (2009-2012) with an annual average of 3.5 metric tons a hectare for
yellow corn and 1.5 metric tons a hectare for white corn including the absence
of aflatoxin, a toxic microorganism hazardous both to humans and animals.
Unson said after the analysis held in the Agricultural
Resource Center in Bayugan City formerly known as the Pagkain ng Bayan Center, the province met the
minimum requirement on the quality of corn grits.
Agusan del Sur is ranked as the number
one corn producing province in Caraga Region.
According to the Bureau of Agricultural
Statistics, the province’s total area planted to corn is 15,818 hectares - 10,217
hectares for white corn and 5,600 hectares for yellow corn based on the five-year
Agri-Pinoy corn road map for 2009-2013.
The award was implemented to recognize local
government units with exceptional performance in the production of quality and
safe corn for human and animal consumption leading to the development and
competitiveness of the industry. It aims to encourage strong DA-LGU partnership
and sustain awareness to the Agri-Pinoy Corn Program and activities of the department.
The provincial government has given intensive
support on corn production. Plaza admitted though that there are challenges with
some program recipients but others are doing well in their farming methods.
The governor is hopeful that some
barangays will make the turn around as additional corn production equipment
were recently handed out.
Plaza called on the municipalities and
barangays to support the program. “Kinakailangan
natin ang tulong nila upang ang municipal agriculturist ay nakatutok din sa
programang ito at kami naman dito sa probinsiya ay pupuno sa mga kakulangan. Dun
papasok ang provincial funds natin, resources upang mapalawak ang ating
programa sa yellow corn at sa ibat ibang produkto ng ating probinsiya. Kinakailangang
aggressive ang ating municipal government lalong-lalo na ang ating mga barangay.
”
He also expressed his gratitude to
Secretary Alcala for the national recognition. He cited the department’s
programs and initiatives which are benefitting the agriculture-based province.
“Kami ay
patuloy na tatangkilik sa mga programa ng ating national government upang
patuloy nating mapapaganda ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka dito sa Agusan
del Sur,” the governor added. (Melody De Vera, PPIO-AgSur)
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