Tagum eyes sweet corn expansion

TAGUM CITY - The Tagum City Agriculture Office (Cagro) is eyeing to expand further its corn production in two barangays here after they have seen a significant increase in the farmers’ income.

Cagro chief Engr. Harold S. Dawa said the early phase of the implementation of the corn expansion went well in Barangay Madaum so they plan to implement the same in Barangay Mankilam and Pagsabangan.

This is still in line with the revitalized goal on food security and agriculture of the City Government.

The Sweet Corn Production, the program of Tagum which seeks to increase corn yields, was launched in May 2013 as an alternative to vegetable farming among the farmers in Madaum, which generated unsatisfactory results both in production and income. About 30 farmers have embarked on planting sweet corn after it earned them higher income.

One of them is Bonifacio Montilla, who is also the president of the Madaum Vegetable and Sweet Corn Farmers Association.

In an interview, Montilla shared that in a 1,300 square meter-lot he planted with a kilo of sweet corn seedlings, he earned P25,000 after harvesting the crops.

Cagro provided them assistance from lots, fertilization, and marketing. The sweet corn produce was sold to meet the demand in Tagum and Mabini, Compostela Valley Province. Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum