balita.ph; November 7, 2013 12:29 pm 

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Nov. 6 (PNA) — About 30 farmers in this city have shifted to planting sweet corn from their long time vegetable growing that has not been giving them good results.

City agriculture office (CAGRO) chief Engr. Harold S. Dawa said the farmers started growing sweet corn in May this year which gave significant increase in their income.

He said their office is helping the farmers grow sweet corn in Barangay Madaum even as he said they will expand the program in barangays Mankilam and Pagsabangan.

"There is a big demand for sweet corn here and also in the neighboring provinces that is why they already have a captive market," he said.

He said they will assist the farmers in looking for other planting sites, in farm inputs and in marketing.

The sweet corn production was launched here in May 2013 when the city agriculture office was looking for an alternative on vegetable farming where production was low.

According to one grower, Bonifacio Montilla who is also president of the Madaum Vegetable and Sweet Corn Farmers Association, a 1,300 square-meter lot planted to one kilo of sweet corn seedlings generates an income of P25,000 in 72 days.

Louie Lapat of the city information office said this program is in line with the revitalized goal of Mayor Allan Rellon on food security.

Lapat said the city government will be acquiring the ten-hectare lot next year that the farmers used as planting site for their use. - [by Digna D. Banzon (PNA) CTB/ASA/DDB/LDP]