[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Promotion, dev’t of corn sector’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Monday, February 6, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
FOR being an awardee as regional corn achiever awardee for two successive years, Zamboanga del Sur was recognized as an outstanding province during the 2016 National Quality Corn Achievers (NQCAA).
The annual NQCAA is organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA), in cooperation with the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc., to give recognition to local government units (LGUs) that implemented considerable efforts for the promotion and development of the corn sector in the country.
Now on its fourth year, the initiative also recognizes the efforts of DA Regional Field Offices around the country for implementing good agricultural practices which resulted in the production of safe and quality corn.
The initiative also enhances the participation of the different corn clusters, and strengthens the partnership between the DA and LGUs.
During the awarding ceremony which was held in Koronadal City late last year, Provincial Agriculture Officer Joel Sabellano, and Provincial Corn Coordinator Yolanda Enriquez, both from Zamboanga del Sur, were also awarded as Outstanding Provincial Agriculturist and Outstanding Corn Coordinator, respectively, for 2016.
Just several days after the awarding ceremony, Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio “Tony” Cerilles sent a delegation to participate in an international conference on best agricultural practices that was organized by the Association of Agricultural Technologists in Southeast Asia (AATSEA) in Heho, Myanmar, to present the best practices of the province in corn and cassava farming.
Led by Junaflor “Sweet” Cerilles, the president of the League of Municipalities of the Zamboanga del Sur Chapter, the delegation is composed of Provincial Board Member Miguelito Ocapan and his agriculturist wife Virginia, Mahayag Mayor Lorna Espina, Tabina Mayor Fruby Dayondon, Midsalip Mayor Leonida Angcap, Lakewood Mayor Canuto Enerio Jr., Sabellano, Enriquez, and provincial agriculture research head Anedem Ebillo.
Zamboanga del Sur was cited by the NQCAA due to its corn produce which is considered of premium grade, and without any trace of Aflatoxin, a dreaded fungus that can destroy corn crops.
The corn production of the province has also increased to more than 144,000 metric tons in 2015, from around 137,000 metric tons in 2014.
Although the production of organic corn in Zamboanga del Sur is still minimal, Ebillo said that the provincial government has already proven, in its demo farms, that organic corn production is feasible and can provide sufficient yield for the farmers.
Ebillo is confident that more corn farmers in Zamboanga del Sur will switch to organic farming, which is being advocated by Cerilles, a staunch supporter of the initiative.
Cerilles has been continuously promoting cassava and corn production among the upland farmers who comprise around 70 percent of all the farmers tilling around 38,000 hectares of farmlands in the province.
In 2015, Cerilles was awarded with the Excellence in Agriculture Leadership Award by AATSEA in Vietnam for his strong advocacy of organic farming among cassava and corn farmers.
AATSEA is a renowned group of agriculture scientists and professionals.
The group cited Cerilles for promoting an innovative organic cassava farming system, which benefitted thousands of marginal farmers in the province./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
