DA touts new high-yield corn varieties

MANILA  —Corn farmers can expect improved income with two newly registered high-yielding varieties of the coarse grain made available for distribution and commercial cultivation, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

These are the CVRC Glut 21-16 — commonly known as Deko Glut — which was developed by DA-DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center, and Tupi 1 WIT (also called South Cotabato Improved Tiniguib) that was developed by DA-Soccsksargen.

Also, the two high-yielding corn variants were developed under the DA’s Corn Germplasm Utilization through Advanced Research and Development (CGUARD) program.

Featuring a robust husk cover that provides resistance to many pests and diseases, samples of Deko Glut was distributed last Dec. 5 to corn farmers of Cagayan Valley and Soccsksargen, since this variety was recommended for cultivation in Luzon and Mindanao.

Test cultivation of Deko Glut showed an average yield of 5.99 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) in Luzon and 4.35 MT/ha in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, South Cotabato Improved Tiniguig was given only to Mindanao-based farmers.

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Apparent tolerant to downy mildew disease, the South Cotabato Improved Tiniguig showed an average grain yield of 5.15 MT/ha. This is more than the average yield of 4.98 MT/ha for all corn varieties in Mindanao.

Joell Lales, assistant director, Bureau of Agricultural Research, said the DA was also looking at the possibility of enhancing more native varieties to increase farmers’ income.

“Considering that we only have two regions highlighted here (Cagayan Valley and Soccsksargen), we have more to expect because” there are 14 other regions in the country, Lales said.

Further, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Padre said researchers’ enhanced techniques and skills can be used beyond the CGUARD program. Thus, the DA can tap, mobilize and harness these in the future.

“In line with the goals and activities of CGUARD, the capacities of DA regional offices’ researchers regarding varietal improvement and development utilizing modern tools of science were developed, practiced, and improved,” Padre said.

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Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that, from January to September 2023, the country’s corn production reached 6.5 million MT, an increase of 2.9 percent from 6.3 million MT in the same period the year before.

For the full year 2022, corn output rose by 2.2 percent to 8.3 million MT from 8.1 million MT in the previous year.