Corn output surged in first quarter

Philippine corn production in the first quarter is expected to reach 2.27 million metric tons, up 33 percent from 1.70 million in the same period last year, an agriculture official said.

"We will be able to hit beyond the government target of 2.096 million metric tons, as more farmers planted corn in the last quarter of 2007," Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo said.

Araullo said corn harvests as of end-February totaled 1.12 million metric tons, and 1.145 million metric tons was expected from the March harvest.

The biggest harvests in the first quarter were in the Cagayan Valley region at 938,566 metric tons, in the Ilocos region at 224,557 metric tons, and the Soccsksargen region in Mindanao at 215,501 metric tons.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics earlier reported that increased corn production in these areas could be attributed to "more plantings due to intensive promotion of corn hybridization, continuous [supply of] hybrid seeds and fertilizer subsidy, and higher market prices."