To boost corn production in the municipality of Pilar, one of the island municipality of Cebu, the Department of Agriculture- Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) in Central Visayas distributed some one hundred sixty-one (161) bags of yellow corn seeds to two (2) farmer associations (FAs) in Pilar, Cebu.
These FAs were the Biasong Small Farmers and Fishermen Association from Barangay Biasong receiving 81 bags of genetically modified (GM) hybrid yellow corn to be planted in a 40.5 hectare areas and the Imelda Farmers and Fisherfolk Association from Barangay Imelda receiving 80 bags to be planted in a 40-hectare planting area. Both FAs are the beneficiaries of the Corn and Cassava Production Project amounting to Php2,804,300 for this year.
Based on the conducted Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA), they identified corn and cassava production as their needed livelihood interventions, as both barangays have high potential for agricultural development, particularly on the said crop commodities.
Edilberto C. Baguio, chairperson of Imelda Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, expressed his gratitude for the DA program, highlighting the potential impact to their local agricultural sector.
“Kini nga programa dako kaayo’g tabang para sa among mga mag-uuma nga ubos nga produksyon tungod sa di maayo’ng panahon ug limitado nga pag-access sa kalidad nga mga liso. Kami naglaum nga moresulta sa mas nindot nga ani ug mas maayong kita para sa among mga mag-uuma,” he said.
(This program is a big help for our corn farmers with low yields due to adverse weather conditions and limited access to quality seeds. We are optimistic that this will improve harvests and better income for our farmers.)
