XINHUA NEWS
18/11/2006
The Philippines may stop importing corn next year as it hits corn production at a self-sufficiency level of 6.1 million metric tons owing to hybrid corn expansion and government's investment on post harvest facilities, local media reported on Saturday.
Ric Pinca, Philippine Association of Feed Millers executive director, said that the Philippines' corn sufficiency status, meaning zero corn importation, is possible next year, according to a report by The Manila Bulletin daily.
"There may be no more corn import next year. We hope local production will increase. Feed millers don't want to import corn if it's available here," Pinca said.
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras said earlier that corn production is foreseen to hit 6.1 million metric tons by yearend, equaling or surpassing a little the consumption level.
The high output is possible, he said, given the 4.83 million metric tons production from January to September this year, up by 15.71 percent from the same period last year. Besides, the second half of the year normally represents a higher production of some 60 percent of the country's total corn production.
If the Philippines will not import corn next year, it will be the first time as of record that the country will be self- sufficient, said the report.
