Corn/Cassava Program

Corn is considered as the second staple food in the Philippines and in the Province of Bohol .It is also considered as the second principal crop to substitute during the absence of rice. Some of the Boholanos today considered corn as one of their major source of livelihood and income .Despite of being an alternate staple food, it is also the main source of ingredients for feeds in the poultry and livestock industry. For this reason, there is an assurance of market and therefore income through corn production.

Cassava is one of components in feeds manufacturing. It is usually intercropped with corn. Farmers’ income in a certain area is maximized when these two crops are planted side by side

The overall goal and objectives is to increase production of quality corn for human consumption, feeds and industrial uses, as well as improve farmers’ income and thus uplift their quality of life.

Corn production in Bohol experienced a sudden drop in area harvested and goes with it also decrease in the production in metric tons from 2016 to 2020 but the yield in metric tons per hectare in 2020 differed by 0.26 compared to the average amount of the four consecutive years previously. This is due to good variety of corn seeds plus the bio-control to address pest diseases and many intervention given like fertilizers.

Corn production in Bohol in 2020 from the previous two graphs though not promising since it has the lowest number of hectares planted and yield or production compares from the previous four years, but when it comes to yield per hectares 2020 production garnered the highest value. This is because of the intervention given by the Provincial Government thru the Office of the provincial Agriculturist. These are the high quality planting seeds, fertilizers that goes with it, farm mechanization, bio-control for infestation and new technology imparted to the corn farmers thru technical briefings.

There are two kinds of corn variety planted in Bohol. They are the white and yellow variety. The white variety is grown and consumed usually as alternate staple food next to rice. It decreases in 2020 as to area planted and yield but as to yield per hectare it will be noticed that it increases compared to the previous four years. The interventions given to the Corn farmers are instrumental in the year 2020. Farmers must maximized their lot to give them more income thus a good way of life for the whole family. Although Boholonos are not corn eating people but idle land must be maximized.

The yellow variety is grown usually for feed raw materials. As we all known there are many Boholanos who are into livestock farming. When in fact Marcela Farms is a typical example. They are producing their own feeds for their hogs farming. Learn from reliable source they are getting their raw material which is corn from Bukidnon. If our farmers could only provide their needs, the money that they spend could not go out from Bohol. This is an opportunity for our Corn Farmers that should not be missed. “Kakugi lang jud” should be borne in mind and to them all good luck.