Hog farmers buck CARP extension

The National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI) is lobbying against the further extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), saying the growing of rice and corn in small plots is not efficient.

NFHFI chairman Gabriel H. Uy, said that without a consolidated approach to production, it is not likely that the country can achieve an efficient and sufficient production of rice and corn. He expressed doubts that the country will be able to achieve self-sufficiency in corn by 2010.

The NFHFI stressed the need to increase the country’s corn production in the face of the continuing rise in the cost of corn in the world market.

Corn, according to the NFHFI, comprises 50 percent of the feed formulation from and takes up to 60 percent of the cost of animal production.

Uy stressed that the Philippines must become self-sufficient in corn if it is to maintain its capability to meet its own meat requirement.