NUEVA ECIJA FARMERS FAVOR USE OF HYBRID CORN

Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines, Inc., the country's leading hybrid corn seed company, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local officials, recently concluded its Corn Expo 2002 held in Cabanatuan City.

Among those who attended the expo were Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Cesar V. Vergara, Vice Mayor Raul Mendoza, DA officials, and more than 1,000 farmers from the neighboring municipalities in Nueva Ecija.

The Corn Expo 2002 focused on farmer education programs on alternative crop varieties to address the anticipated El Niño phenomenon forecasted to hit the country late this year. During the expo, Pioneer demonstrated the appropriate planting and management of hybrid corn, including proper fertilization, irrigation, and effective weed and pest management to maximize the yield and profit for corn farmers. An open forum was held after series of demonstrations, where Pioneer agronomists addressed farmer concerns regarding crop management, post-harvest handling, and grain marketing.

According to Ryan Vergara, marketing manager of DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition, "We want to explore new ideas and introduce proven technologies to Novo Ecijano farmers as part of our social commitment to help the Philippines achieve food security," Currently, the corn grain production in Central Luzon is not enough to meet the demand of livestock growers.

Fortunately, Pioneer was able to touch base with the biggest feed miller in Region 3, who readily expressed willingness to accept as much grains as Nueva Ecija farmers can produce. Through such integrated approach, farmers now have the opportunity to reap the benefits of high yielding corn as a viable alternative to planting rice.

Most farmers showed great interest to Pioneer's efforts in bringing the corn technology to Nueva Ecija, which is mainly a rice-planting province, and are considering corn as an option for their next crop planting.

The company presented its hybrid seed corn product line and technologies including its top-performing Luzon hybrid Pioneer® 30D44. Crop Protection Products showcased were DuPont™ Lannate®, Ammo®, and Furadan® insecticides and Herbadox® herbicide.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.




This article courtesy of http://www.allhybridcar.com.
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