The corn industry performance has been challenged not only by natural causes but by a host of factors like low farm technology adoption; poor or absence of mechanization and postharvest facilities; failings in market and support services (e.g. information, logistics infrastructure, credit, extension); and inadequacies in governance. Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority, the updated estimate of corn production in the country for standing crops as of November 2023 indicated a decrease of 1.1 percent from its record of 1.96 million metric tons as of October 2023. On these concerns, the Department of Agriculture seeks to directly address the key concerns of the sector, especially the outdated production practices and perennially low levels of productivity due to their lack of access to credit and capital, as well, as to modernize farming and fishery methods, farm mechanization, post-harvest and processing facilities, transport and logistics, packaging support, and information and communication technologies, among others. With this, the ATI-Cordillera conducted a 10-day Training of Trainers on Corn Production and Management held at the Dam-muh-han Hall, ATI-RTC-CAR, BSU Compd., La Trinidad, Benguet on April 15-26, 2024.
Participants were immersed in different topics such as the Corn Industry Overview in both National and Regional settings; the Maize Seed; Morphology of the Corn Plant, Its Growth Stages, and Phases; Corn Management Practices (covering Crop Establishment, Soil, Water, and Fertilizer Management, Pest Management, Disease Management focused on Aflatoxin, Harvest and Postharvest Practices, Seed Testing, Sampling); Corn-based Farming Systems (ScoPSA, SLRME); Farm Record Keeping; Farm Planning and Budgeting; Corn-by-Product Processing (covering Feeds and Silages); Marketing, and Marketing Strategies; Presentation and Facilitation Skills; and Conducting Farmers’ Field School.
Also covered were topics on Transformational Leadership and the Basics of the Extension Delivery System. These topics were incorporated for the participants to appreciate their roles in the advancement of the corn industry.
The DA-RFO-CAR Corn Program Unit has distributed corn seeds under its Corn Productivity Enhancement Program (CPEP) for the participants to implement Corn FFSs in their respective areas of coverage.
Participants of the said training course were 33 front liners in the field, Agricultural Extension Workers in the local government units, and active farmer-leaders. //With reports from Ms. Vicky May Guinayen
