Corn Innovation Center to rise in Ilagan

CITY OF ILAGAN: The establishment of the Corn Innovation Center (CIC) will boost the city's standing as the center for food production in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The groundbreaking ceremony for the P20-million facility in Barangay Marana on Tuesday was led by Ilagan Mayor Josemarie Diaz.

Joining Diaz during the ceremony were DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research Director Junel Soriano, DA-Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Rose Mary Aquino, and corn farmers. Some city and provincial government officials were also present.

During the event, Soriano emphasized the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., also the DA Secretary, to revitalize the value chain from research to market.

He noted the need to build and establish as many markets as possible.

"We partnered with a market company based in Manila and we initially discussed putting up more drop-off centers or food terminal centers managed by the locals," Soriano said.

He said the market should be near the farmers to reduce the number of traders and expenses.

"We are proposing to the [DA] Secretary to subsidize the logistics directly to the market where the farmers can sell at a higher price and earn more," Soriano said.

Diaz said the CIC facility will be timely for corn farmers in the city tagged as the Corn Capital of the Philippines. This will also form part of the forward integration of the local government.

"This goal is also aligned with the thrust of the Marcos administration to enhance the production of rice and corn to sustain the requirements of food sufficiency in the country," he added.

Diaz said Ilagan City must live up to being the center for food production, considering the availability of raw materials and viable production of livestock and food products through forward integration.

Representing Executive Director Narciso Edillo of the DA Region 2, Aquino said the DA-BAR and DA-Regional Field Office 2 will ensure the quality of corn in the city's corn fields.

She said the DA-BAR will also focus on research and development to make the beneficiaries aware of the importance of technology innovation and transfer.

Source: TheManila Times