DA helps boost Ilagan City corn industry

ILAGAN CITY: The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) said corn livestock integration in the province of Isabela is a robust choice for investment.

Rose Mary Aquino, DA-RFO2 officer in charge regional executive director, said this would help Ilagan City become a Liveable City toward 2030.

“Agriculture tops the list in the possible investments since we have the I-Corn Complex here in Ilagan, Isabela, being the topproducing province, making the Cagayan Valley region the top corn-producing region nationwide,” Aquino said.

She said the DA-RFO2 and the Ilagan City government led by Mayor Josemarie Diaz had agreed to establish an I-Corn Complex, a project worth P196.7 million.

“The agreement was reached after a consultation meeting led by the DA-Region 2 officials and representatives from other concerned government agencies,” Aquino said, adding that the DA would provide P107 million while the Ilagan City government would provide P89.7 million.

She said the complex would serve as a one-stop agri-commercial center once completed.

“The I-Corn Complex will serve Ilagueño corn farmers, including those from Isabela and the rest of Cagayan Valley,” she said.

Aquino also noted that the establishment aimed to solve the problem of low productivity of corn resulting from insufficient mechanized drying facilities and inefficient marketing and business activities.

The DA-RFO2 researchers have corn-based technologies and products on their list that are ready to be transferred to capable processors using the Corn Innovation Center funded under the DA Bureau of Agricultural Research.