𝗚𝗼𝘃. 𝗣𝗮𝗺 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀
The Cebu Provincial Government is eyeing a bigger role for the province in the country’s corn industry by expanding production in areas with strong farming potential and established markets.
“Agriculture and food security are very close to my heart. And today, I want to share one of my dreams for our province: I dream of Cebu becoming a major corn-producing province,” Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said.
But for Gov. Baricuatro, boosting corn production should also translate into higher incomes for farmers.
“We have the farmers, we have communities with great agricultural potential, and we have a growing market. My dream is not simply to see more cornfields in Cebu. I want those cornfields to mean more income for our farmers, more opportunities for their families, and greater food security for every Cebuano,” she said.
Gov. Baricuatro made the remarks on Wednesday as an honored guest at the 19th Philippine National Corn Congress, which brought together farmers, agricultural partners from the Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas, as well as officials of the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. and the Department of Agriculture.
She said better market access and post-harvest facilities would be crucial to increasing farmers’ earnings.
“We cannot simply tell them to plant and, after harvest, leave them asking, “Asa man namo ni ibaligya?” That is why market access and post-harvest support are very important,” she said.
The province is currently working on a Mega Food Hub that would provide farmers with facilities for storing, processing and distributing their produce, while linking them directly with potential buyers, the governor added.
She called on the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (PhilMaize), the Department of Agriculture, the private sector and farmers to work with the provincial government in developing Cebu’s corn industry.
Also present at the event were DA Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro, Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo, DA-7 Regional Director Angel Enriquez and PhilMaize Federation Inc. President Romualdo Elvira.
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