DAR introduces new corn variety in Occ. Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has introduced a new yellow corn variety that yields more fruit and will help farmers earn more.

The corn variety, which is a lot cheaper to grow, will initially benefit farmers in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, DAR regional director Erlinda Pearl Armada said.

“Aside from rice, corn is another major crop grown by our farmer-beneficiaries here. We introduced the new corn variety endorsed by the Department of Agriculture that is guaranteed to help farmers increase their income,” Armada said.

Under the DAR’s Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services, the department tapped 30 farmers of the Armado-Cabacao Farmers’ Marketing Cooperative in Abra de Ilog town to become farmer-technicians of the yellow corn open-pollinated variety (OPV).

According to Armada, farmers used to plant BT-corn, a genetically modified corn variety that is not only expensive to buy but also produces less corn than the OPV.

Based on studies made by crop specialists hired by DAR, the use of OPV will decrease the cost of seed procurement by 90 percent.

Crop specialist Rafael Barroso said the OPV is not genetically modified and is a much better variety as the corn seeds are produced through the natural process of open pollination.

Barroso said the introduction of OPV would reduce the cost of buying seeds from P12,000 to P2,000 per hectare.

“We have successfully proven to our 30 farmer-technicians the benefits of using OPV of yellow corn. Now it’s their turn to transfer what they have learned and witnessed in the demo farm to convince other farmers,” Armada said.

The next corn planting season will start in October.