Corn grain price fluctuations during the peak harvest in Mindanao has dampened the spirits as well as the livelihood of many Filipino farmers. This sad development in the corn sector is aggravated by the unabated soaring cost of farm inputs, such as fertilizers.
Efren Sarto, a corn farmer from South Cotabato, in the midst of this entire dismal scenario still has a success story to share to his fellow corn farmers. Sarto is the candidate of Region 12 for the prestigious Gawad Saka Award given annually by the Department of Agriculture to technologically inclined and successful farmers in the country.
In December 2004, Sarto planted Pioneer hybrid 30M50. He harvested his corn crop and, to his satisfaction, he obtained a dried weight of 8,500 kilos per hectare. With a grain price of P8.25 per kilo, his gross income per hectare reached nearly P70,000. Even with the high input cost of around P26,000, he was able to net more than P40,000.
In March, corn grain prices fluctuated to an average low of P7.20 and average high of P8 per kilo. Fertilizer prices in the national level soared from 34.89% to 53.57% over the previous year. This farm input constitutes around 35% of the total corn production cost.
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With this almost bleak landscape, corn farmers must be really wise in choosing the right technology as well as the right seed that will help them increase their production and realize the highest potential income from their livelihood.
Sarto is one of the many corn farmers who have tried and continue to plant Pioneer varieties because of the high yields and income they get from using these products. His confidence in choosing to plant corn instead of other crops was not shaken by recent developments. ?This season, I will be renting an additional seven hectares of land and plant it with the Pioneer hybrid 30Y50,? Sarto happily declared.
Pioneer hybrid 30Y50 is the Bt version of 30M50 which is enhanced with a naturally occurring protein from soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, which protects plants from the Asiatic corn borer (ACB). ACB is the most prevalent insect corn pest in the country and causes up to 80% damage and yield loss.
Sarto believes that this new technology is essential in his corn production especially since corn borer problems are prevalent in the area. ?I believe that with 30Y50, I will get even higher yield because it is corn borer protected,? he stressed.
Jet Parma, country manger of Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines said ?The experience of Mr. Sarto and all the other corn farmers who have succeeded by using our products keeps Pioneer committed in its goal of helping Filipino corn farmers achieve their maximum profit.?
With the story of Mr. Sarto, it is envisioned that Filipino corn farmers will continue to hope for the best.
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