Yap orders NFA to triple its corn procurement volume

MANILA, Philippines - Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap has ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to triple its corn procurement volume to counter the effects of a looming price-crash of the grain. 

Yap instructed NFA Administrator Jessup Navarro to raise the agency’s corn grain buying target from 100,000 metric tons (MT) to 300,000 MT.

 “We have funds for this,” Yap said as he instructed the NFA to look for other innovative ways to support corn farmers.

The NFA’s buying price for good quality, clean and dry grain from legitimate farmer groups is P12.30 per kilo plus a P0.70 incentive.

Yap denied allegations that the Department of Agriculture is responsible for the massive importation of corn which, in turn, affected the value of local produce.

Yap said that even if the government allows corn importations, it must be in accordance with the minimum access volume (MAV).

“The MAV for corn is pegged at 216,940 MT, and based on our records we’ve only used up about 96,812.213 MT,” he said.

Yap denied accusations that the DA allowed the importation of feed wheat and the removal of its tariff. He said “the DA did not allow importation of feed wheat nor support the removal of its tariff from seven percent to zero percent. The department is not in a position to do so.”

He said the DA, is merely a member of the Cabinet committee on tariff and related matters (CTRM) and only followed normal procedures.

“I, personally, did not support the move as I believe it will affect the corn industry and more importantly the farmers,” Yap said.

He said he has instructed the GMA-National Corn Program headed by assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo to implement program interventions to aid farmers in corn producing provinces.

The intervention measures include the completion of 35 post-harvest centers with  drying, and storage facilities in strategic areas nationwide.