NFA to triple procurement of corn

The Department of Agriculture on Thursday ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to triple corn procurement as part of the government’s strategy to counter the effects of the looming price crash of the grain and to support Filipino farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said he instructed the authority’s administrator, Jessup Navarro, to increase the corn-grain buying target from 100,000 metric tons to 300,000 metric tons.

“We have funds for this,” Yap said, adding that President Gloria Arroyo had approved the increase of procurement when he proposed it in a Cabinet meeting.

He also instructed the Food authority to look for new ways to expand support for local corn farmers.

The secretary then ordered the GMA-National Corn Program, headed by Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo, to implement projects to help corn farmers. The program will include the completion nationwide of some 35 corn centers that have post-harvest facilities for drying and storage.

Yap said good quality, clean and dry corn grains from legitimate farmer groups were bought P12.30 a kilo, which includes P0.70 incentives.

He also denied allegation that the Agriculture department was responsible for the massive importation of corn that affect the local prices of the crop.

Even if the government allowed importation, it was still in accordance with the minimum access volume, or MAV, he explained. “The MAV for corn is pegged at 216,940 MT [metric ton], and based on our records we’ve only used up about 96,812.213 MT.”

This importation was made during a shortage in corn, he said.

Feed wheat

Critics have also argued that the department allowed the importation of feed wheat and the removal of its tariff.

But Yap denied the story. “The DA [Department of Agriculture] did not allow importation of feed wheat nor support the removal of its tariff from 7 percent to 0 percent. The department is not in a position to do so.”

Yap explained that the department was merely a member of the Cabinet Committee on Tariff and Related Matters and was only following the normal procedures. “I, personally, did not support the move as I believe it will affect the corn industry and more importantly the farmers.” –Ira Karen Apanay, Senior Reporter, Manila Times