White, yellow corn Q3 production in R11 up
WHITE corn and yellow corn production in Davao Region increased by 15.61 percent (%) and 24.22% respectively as of the 3rd quarter of 2017.
From the data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, white corn production in Davao Region amounted to 73,289 metric tons (MT) as of the third quarter of last year with only about 63,392 MT 3rd quart of 2016.
Most of the white corns were produced from Davao del Sur with 31,508 MT, followed by Davao Oriental with 16,361 MT total white corn production, Compostela Valley with 14,138 MT, and Davao City and Davao del Norte with 5,740 MT and 5,542 MT respectively.
Yellow corns in Davao Region, on the other hand, are mostly coming from Davao del Sur with a recorded total of 10,467 MT of yellow corn production for the 3rd quarter of 2017, Compostela Valley with 5,320 MT of yellow corn, Davao del Norte with 3,197 MT, Davao City with 1,141 MT, and Davao Oriental with 528 MT.
By the last week of December, the Department of Agriculture (DA), together with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Philippine Maize Federation (PhilMaize) launched the Bigas-Mais blend which targets to have a healthier and more practical staple food for Filipinos.
“The rice and white corn combo is a healthier choice for the rice-eating Filipinos as corn contains higher amylose content which makes it harder to gelatinize and slower to digest…Bigas-Mais is just one of our strategies to quash our dependence on imported rice every time a shortfall in supply surfaces,” Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said in a statement.