Monday, April 1, 2013

Aggie Department Launches Search for Corn Quality Awards


   Caraga AgriPinoy Corn Program Coordinator Abel Wagas explained to LGU 
     corn coordinators the mechanics of the Corn Quality Awards during the
     coordination meeting in Bagarabon, Surigao City.

To push quality and safe corn production in the country the Department of Agriculture AgriPinoy Corn Program launched this year the first and prestigious search in the corn industry dubbed as 2013 National Search for Corn Quality Awards.

The search is open nationwide and is envisioned to recognize the achievement of top performing LGUs with outstanding contribution to the corn industry.

Caraga  Regional Corn Coordinator Abel Wagas said that the search is open to all provincial, city and municipal LGUs, as well as its LGU-based corn coordinators, and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) who are involved in the implementation of the DA Agri-Pinoy Corn Program.

The 2013 Corn Quality Awards will choose top 5 provinces, top 25 cities or municipalities, top 5 provincial corn coordinators, top 25 municipal corn coordinators and top 100 agricultural extension workers. 

The prizes for the winners are: 3 million worth of infrastructure or farm machineries plus plaque for provinces, half million worth of infrastructure or farm machineries plus plaque for cities/municipalities, 20,000 pesos cash prize plus plaque and certificate for provincial corn coordinators, 15,000 pesos cash prize plus plaque and certificate for city/municipal corn coordinators and 10,000 pesos cash prize plus plaque and certificate for agricultural extension workers.

Winning corn coordinators shall come from the chosen top provinces and cities or municipalities while AEWs must be involved in corn related extension activities.

For provincial category, judging will be based on technical requirements such as the corn grain samples and shall comply with minimum Grade No. 3 as per PNS for Shelled Corn. 

Corn farms shall preferably meet the minimum requirements of Good Agricultural Practices for Corn (PNS/BAFPS 15:2008) and Code of Practice for the prevention and reduction of aflatoxin in corn (PNS/BAFPS 27:2008) and have yield records for the past 3 yrs based on BAS data an annual average of 3.5 MT/ha for yellow and annual average of 1.5MT/ha for white.

For municipal category, corn grits samples shall comply with minimum Grade No. 4 as per PNS for Corn Grits.

Corn farms shall preferably meet the minimum requirements of Good Agricultural Practices for Corn (PNS/BAFPS 20:2008) and Code of Practice for the prevention and reduction of aflatoxin in corn (PNS/BAFPS 27:2008) and have yield records for past 3 yrs based on BAS data an annual average of 3.5 MT/ha for yellow and annual average of 1.5MT/ha for white.

The level of aflatoxin and other quality parameters shall be based on the data obtained during the contest duration.

Interested LGU shall submit letter of intent and other pertinent supporting documents to the Regional Search Committee (RSC) on or before June 15, 2013. Chosen top regional contenders will be endorsed by RSC to the National Technical Committee for evaluation and validation.

Awarding of winners is tentatively scheduled on October 2013 probably in Metro Manila area.
Ensuring quality corn production is not only a responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, but also of other partner government agencies, particularly the Local Government Units (LGUs). (Aurell P. Arais/RAFID DA CARAGA)

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