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.
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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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