Corn breeding program to help farmers, provide cheaper feeds
TO further boost the country’s production of yellow corn varieties, a sustainable corn breeding program will be implemented to support farmers’ demand for location-specific and affordable varieties for animal feeds.
The Department of Agriculture, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s leadership, said that the program’s implementation will benefit the livestock, poultry, and dairy sector and ensure sustainable and sufficient food grains.
The DA added that the program would also strengthen the development of yellow corn varieties with improved yield potential of 5-6 tons/ha, drought, and disease tolerance, and enriched protein content.
It further aims to ensure the supply of quality breeder seeds for certified seed production by seed growers.
The corn development initiative, to be undertaken through the Regional Field Office Cagayan Valley, in coordination with the National Corn Program, Bureau of Agricultural Research, and the Agricultural Training Institute, will also develop open-pollinated white corn varieties for food staples and food processing.
As of 2020, the Cagayan Valley Research Center has developed 18 open-pollinated varieties (OPV) corn varieties approved and accredited by the National Seed Industry Council.
Through the implementation of this sustainable corn breeding program, at least two varieties are expected to be commercialized in two years.
The Cagayan Valley region is a key growing area of yellow corn production in the country, contributing 31% of the total national production in 2021.
Analysis of the cost structure of yellow corn reveals high production costs, forcing the local industry to rely on imported genetically-modified corn hybrid seeds, which guarantee high yield.
However, attaining potential yield from these corn hybrids requires high fertilizer usage. Because of this, some farmers resort to the use of OPV, which entails lesser capital and reduced potential crop failure.
The DA’s comprehensive corn breeding program would not only support the local corn industry by utilizing locally developed varieties and lowering production cost, but also benefit the development of the livestock, poultry, and dairy sector of the country.
