Bt Corn Farmers Receive Government Support

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that it will continue to promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology products like the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn. DA will include BT corn in its Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) agenda, a country-wide assistance program that aims to increase production of quality corn and promote farmer’s adoption of corn hybrid technologies. Under the program, farmers who plant BT cotton will receive a subsidy of P1,200 per hectare.

Assistant Secretary for Operations Dennis Araullo said "We need to increase productivity. With limited land devoted for food production and more and more agricultural lands being converted for other purposes, the only way we can increase productivity is through an advanced farming technology. Biotechnology is a solution to such problems."

In a recent dialogue with members of the Philippine Maize Federation (PMF), BT corn growers expressed their support to the government’s ongoing programs in promoting the use of biotechnology products. PMF member Gerardo Barica, a farmer from Zamboanga del Norte, said he started planting Bt cotton in 2006 and was surprised that his yield increased from 3 to 5 tons per hectare, with a net profit increase of about P 22,000  (US$512) per hectare.

Read the press release at http://www.da.gov.ph/