Senate panel tackles bill promoting PH yellow corn industry
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Wednesday, January 11 started tackling the bill that seeks to promote and improve the country’s yellow corn industry.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture panel, noted how local production of the crop is on an upward trend—from 5.91 million metric tons in 2019 to 6.13 million metric tons in 2022.
Villar, during the hearing on Senate Bill No. 120 or the proposed Yellow Corn Industry Development Act of 2022 said the development of a yellow corn industry also goes hand-in-hand with the development of the Philippine’s livestock or poultry industries.
The senator also noted the yellow corn industry also complements the country’s dairy industry “because yellow corn is a key animal feed ingredient.”
However, Villar noted that the government is forced to import yellow corn due high demand and low domestic production.
She said that while local production of yellow corn is on the upward trend, the demand is much higher – 8.98 million metric tons last year, forcing the government to import yellow corn.
According to Villar, passage of the bill into law will help develop and promote the yellow corn industry and enhance the availability of affordable and quality feeds.
Senate Bill No. 120 also seeks the creation of a Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
Citing data collated by the Philippine Institute for Development Study (PIDS), Villar said corn price is a major driver of feed cost which directly affects the cost of pig and chicken meat.