MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture recently turned over to a cooperative of corn farmers in Quezon province a village-type corn processing hub that would enable them to process corn all-year-round.
The 5,000-square meter corn processing hub worth P28.2 million was turned over to the Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (IAMFI) based in Tayabas under a counterpart funding scheme with the government.
The corn processing hub is located along Maharlika Highway in Brgy. Calumpang, Tayabas City and is strategically placed near corn-growing areas.
The hub comprises facilities for drying, shelling and storage, as well as a trading area where farmers can directly sell their corn-on-the-cob to bulk buyers.
The trading and processing center would also serve as a capability-building center for corn planters where they can learn about the latest and most appropriate farming technologies through trainings and seminars.
The hub is also equipped with tractors, haulers and other machineries to be used in land preparation and logistics.
With this facility, farmers would be able to plant and sell corn all-year-round.
Corn is primarily used in the country as an additive for animal feeds.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala urged corn farmers in Quezon to take advantage of the large demand from the feed milling sector. The growth in feed demand runs parallel to the growth in the domestic livestock sector that has been enjoying high domestic demand and remains free from animal diseases.
The corn processing hub is expected to benefit some 12,000 farmers from across Quezon and 3,000 more from nearby Batangas.
Alcala said additional drying facilities would be installed if needed to meet the growth in demand.
The DA implements a cost-sharing scheme with cooperatives in which the government shoulders 85 percent of the cost of farm equipment and the qualified farmer organization shoulders the remaining 15 percent.