Corn Model Farm

The 50-hectare model farm of corn in Brgy. Kalumboyan, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental is projected to harvest seven to eight metric tons per hectare based on the conducted crop cutting which exceeded the model farm’s target of 5 metric tons per hectare using hybrid corn seeds.

This was divulged during the corn harvest festival in the area on September 5, 2019.

Atty. Salvador Diputado, DA7 Regional Executive Director, acknowledged the support given by the local government unit of Bayawan and the eagerness of the farmers.

Diputado committed to give corn sheller post-harvest facility and provide a technician in order to sustain the program; while Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves also assured the farmers that there will be no problem of the market. Mayor Teves encouraged farmers to produce more and that they will assist them in the marketing of products.

Bernard Limbaga, the Corn and Cassava Action Officer of PATCO Negros Oriental, explained that the 10 hectares demo farm last year had an impressive outcome that they have decided to place the model farm in the said barangay.

Forty out of more than 400 members of the Kalumboyan Multi-Purpose Farmers Association (KAMULFA) participated in the activity.

“Aside from the seeds, fertilizers, and technical assistance, the Department of Agriculture under the corn program, turned over 1 unit tractor to the association to help them lower input cost”, Limbaga added.

Nonita Guiron, 53 years old resident of sitio Tiama-an, brgy. Kalumboyan expressed her gratitude for all the interventions they received from the Department of Agriculture and the Local Government of Bayawan City.

“I have been farming since I was young, following the traditional way. I can testify that if we will only follow the proper farming style and application of fertilizer taught by DA, our production will increase”, she said.

While Pedrito Langga of purok 3, brgy. Kalumboyan proudly disclosed that he is expected to have a 30-50% increase of corn production because of the program.

The goal of the model farm is to help increase corn productivity considering that based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Negros Oriental has only .83 metric tons of harvest per hectare basis.

Negros Oriental has 55 thousand hectares of Corn, almost 7 thousand hectares is in Bayawan City.