The provincial government of Davao Oriental—through the Provincial Agriculture Office, held what in called a Corn Harvest Festival in Barangay Bobon, Mati City where 52 farmer cooperators benefited from the 1.8 million pesos worth of corn production from what was dubbed “Davao Oriental Corn Enhancement Project” under the Pagkain at Kita program, a brainchild of the Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon.
The first cycle alone had a total corn production of 50 metric tons of white corn and 136 metric tons of yellow corn from the 59-hectare area. The figures, however, are projected to increase as the agriculture sector remains determined to double its production in the second cycle.
Rotchie M. Ravelo, technical assistant to Pagkain at Kita Program was clearly elated, saying that this year’s biggest area in the entire city of Mati in terms of corn production is in Barangay Bobon.
Fifty-nine hectares was harvested out of the total 110 hectares established corn project site, 20 hectares of which were planted to the white corn variety and 39 hectares to the yellow variety.
The shelled white corn were valued at 13 pesos per kilo and the yellow corn at 9 pesos per kilo.
Ravelo added that the income would have been much higher if the produce was sold at higher cost.
“We will study how to balance the price so that we can compete with the market price,” said Malanyaon.
The provincial government is thinking of selling the produce outside the province, a marketing strategy that is guaranteed to get a better price, thus increasing the local farmers’.
“For marketing support, the government bought a hauling truck (Forward truck) for P950,000 for transporting corn to Tagum City where it can be sold at a higher price,” Ravelo said.
Moreover, a new farm tractor worth 2.4 million pesos was bought through a counterpart scheme between the provincial government which granted 1.2 million pesos and the Department of Agriculture allotting 1.2 million pesos. “This only proves how strong the commitment of our government is to provide our people with a better life,” said Ravelo, who added that the income generated per hectare from white corn alone has reached P30,000.00 and P35,000.00 for the yellow corn. The 1.8 million total value of production (1,228,500 pesos for the yellow corn and 600,000 pesos on the white corn) has encouraged more corn farmers to further boost their production.
To realize this project, the provincial government has subsidized 800,000 pesos as counterpart of the 1.2 million-budget allotted. This includes trainings and seminars for the farmers, farming inputs such as corn seeds and fertilizers, as well as the provision of the tractor. The city government of Mati, the barangay LGU, and the cooperators themselves will continue to support to the programs of the provincial government in its thrust of advancing the agriculture sector.
Today, the Davao Oriental Corn Enhancement Project has a total of 100 farmer cooperators in Barangay Bobon while rhe provincial government vigorously expands the project so that more small farmers will be benefited.
“The marginalized sector deserves more from the government without being dependent on the government too much. Even as they receive more from the government, the government also expects just as much in return through their relentless farming venture,” said Ravelo.
Governor Malanyaon stressed that achieving progress starts with value-transformation by changing the mindset of people from dependency to self-reliance. “Let us maximize our vast agricultural resources in the province as my agricultural slogan is “Matag Yuta, Adunay Tanum” the governor said, adding, “The presence of the provincial government should be established in every barangay through various programs that will benefit all our constituents.”
The Pagkain at Kita program was the first program implemented by Malanyaon under the Executive Order No. 001 when she took office in 2007. eved,” he added.
As the champion province in the recent Regional Gawad Saka Award and is now vying for the National category, the provincial government of Davao Oriental is indeed determined in its pursuit of developing agriculture in the province and improving the lives of its constituents.
The first cycle alone had a total corn production of 50 metric tons of white corn and 136 metric tons of yellow corn from the 59-hectare area. The figures, however, are projected to increase as the agriculture sector remains determined to double its production in the second cycle.
Rotchie M. Ravelo, technical assistant to Pagkain at Kita Program was clearly elated, saying that this year’s biggest area in the entire city of Mati in terms of corn production is in Barangay Bobon.
Fifty-nine hectares was harvested out of the total 110 hectares established corn project site, 20 hectares of which were planted to the white corn variety and 39 hectares to the yellow variety.
The shelled white corn were valued at 13 pesos per kilo and the yellow corn at 9 pesos per kilo.
Ravelo added that the income would have been much higher if the produce was sold at higher cost.
“We will study how to balance the price so that we can compete with the market price,” said Malanyaon.
The provincial government is thinking of selling the produce outside the province, a marketing strategy that is guaranteed to get a better price, thus increasing the local farmers’.
“For marketing support, the government bought a hauling truck (Forward truck) for P950,000 for transporting corn to Tagum City where it can be sold at a higher price,” Ravelo said.
Moreover, a new farm tractor worth 2.4 million pesos was bought through a counterpart scheme between the provincial government which granted 1.2 million pesos and the Department of Agriculture allotting 1.2 million pesos. “This only proves how strong the commitment of our government is to provide our people with a better life,” said Ravelo, who added that the income generated per hectare from white corn alone has reached P30,000.00 and P35,000.00 for the yellow corn. The 1.8 million total value of production (1,228,500 pesos for the yellow corn and 600,000 pesos on the white corn) has encouraged more corn farmers to further boost their production.
To realize this project, the provincial government has subsidized 800,000 pesos as counterpart of the 1.2 million-budget allotted. This includes trainings and seminars for the farmers, farming inputs such as corn seeds and fertilizers, as well as the provision of the tractor. The city government of Mati, the barangay LGU, and the cooperators themselves will continue to support to the programs of the provincial government in its thrust of advancing the agriculture sector.
Today, the Davao Oriental Corn Enhancement Project has a total of 100 farmer cooperators in Barangay Bobon while rhe provincial government vigorously expands the project so that more small farmers will be benefited.
“The marginalized sector deserves more from the government without being dependent on the government too much. Even as they receive more from the government, the government also expects just as much in return through their relentless farming venture,” said Ravelo.
Governor Malanyaon stressed that achieving progress starts with value-transformation by changing the mindset of people from dependency to self-reliance. “Let us maximize our vast agricultural resources in the province as my agricultural slogan is “Matag Yuta, Adunay Tanum” the governor said, adding, “The presence of the provincial government should be established in every barangay through various programs that will benefit all our constituents.”
The Pagkain at Kita program was the first program implemented by Malanyaon under the Executive Order No. 001 when she took office in 2007. eved,” he added.
As the champion province in the recent Regional Gawad Saka Award and is now vying for the National category, the provincial government of Davao Oriental is indeed determined in its pursuit of developing agriculture in the province and improving the lives of its constituents.
