November 12, 2014
Lifting of Philippine ban on corn export sought
Traders and farmers have asked the Philippine government to lift its restriction on corn exports.
With the prevailing free trade, other countries can freely ship their corn to the Philippines, said Roger Navarro, president of the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (PhilMaize). So, logically, "there should not be any restriction against corn export."
Navarro said his group has been asking the Philippine Department of Agriculture to allow them to export corngrains, as the country has already achieved corn self-sufficiency.
In July the agriculture department reported that the country produced enough corn last year for its own consumption.
"We have actually met the self-sufficiency levels for corn of the local feed and livestock industry," National Corn Program director Edilberto de Luna said, adding that "local corn production reached self-sufficiency last year based on market demand."
De Luna, however, said the real test for self-sufficiency also requires a one-month buffer stock and "this small margin we hope to achieve very soon."
Philippine corn production has grown from 3.4 tonnes per hectare to 4.2 tonnes/hectare in the past few years, "mainly to better, more high-yielding seeds and new technology," de Luna said.
He said the Philippines saved more than PHP60 billion (US$1.33 billion) on corn imports between 2010 and 2013.
"We used to import PHP28 billion US$623 million) worth of corn every year but last year, we were almost sufficient," he said.
Asked whether there are other stakeholders who would be against their appeal to export, Navarro said said that naturally, feedmillers would resist it to secure cheap materials for their product.