Corn seeds distributed; high yield expected

The 750 bags of Open Pollinated Variety 10 (PSB Cn 93-27) white corn purchased by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) from Banga, South Cotabato late last year had just completely distributed to Boholano corn farmers last Thursday with a high hope that corn planting areas would be expanded and high yield would be produced in the next harvest season in the province.

It is remembered that the PGBh through the OPA has urged the farmers to just coordinate with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO)  in their respective municipalities for them to be the beneficiaries of the corn seeds which could be given free.

Abita A. Perez, Provincial Corn Coordinator said the corn seeds were given to Local Government Units (LGUs) of Talibon (63 bags); Valenicia (60); San Miguel (50); Getafe (31); Jagna (30); Dagohoy (27); Garcia-Hernandez (25); Bongbong, Trinidad through the Agri-HEAT (24); Mabini; Dimiao; Candijay; Katipunan, Carmen and Katipunan, Alicia through the Countryside Development Program-Purok Power Movement (CDP-PPM); and LGUs of Sikatuna and Duero at 20 bags each;

LGUs of Guindulman (16 bags); Anda; Tubigon; Bayawahan, Sevilla (through Agri-HEAT); Villaflor, Carmen and Magsaysay, Sevilla (CDP-PPM areas) at 15 bags each; while the LGU of Catigbian received 10 bags.

Aside from the corn seeds of the provincial government, the Boholano corn farmers also received corn seeds from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)7 through the Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) of which they procured 5,000 bags of Open Pollinated Variety 10 (PSB cn 93-27) and 500 bags of hybrid yellow-corn variety.

The PGBh is expecting that the corn planting areas in Bohol would be expanded in support to the Food Security Program of the government as the province and the DA-RFO 7 had distributed more corn seeds for planting.

At present, the province of Bohol has 16,865 hectares (has.) of corn planting areas. But these areas can be expanded if other towns whose lands are also potential for corn planting can be tilled.

Perez said the farmers are now in the status of land preparation to be readied for the next planting season starting on April.

The PGBh has continued setting the tone in giving some interventions to the farmers and recognizing them who have made the niche in their fields. (Atoy Cosap)