Bt Corn Farmers Receive Government Support
November 16, 2007| |
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/
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- A New Hybrid Rice Group Aims to Increase Rice Yield in the Tropics
- 2008 is International Year of the Potato
- Experts Comment on Safety and Benefits of Plant Biotech
- FAO Publishes Report on Bioenergy Status of G8 and 5 other Countries
- Egyptian Editor Given FAO Award for Agric Journalism
- AGRA Appoints Namanga Ngongi as its First President
- African Experts Appeal for More S&T Funding
- Designing a Better Leaf
- The Need for 'Rust Proof' Wheat
- Soybean Farmer Sets New Record Yield
- ISAAA Recognized as International Partner by Philippine Agric Council
- India Adopts National Biotechnology Development Strategy
- Bt Corn Farmers Receive Government Support
- Australia Approves New GM Cotton Trial
- Contribution of Biotech to New Zealand
- Biotech Papaya Safe for Soil Microbes
- Identification of Ectomycorrhiza Associated with Dipterocarpus alatus
- Beans Suited for the Harsh Mediterranean
- Unreported GM Maize Field Trials in Italy Show Positive Results
-
Research Highlights
- Fungal Insecticides with Increased Efficacy
- Identification of Insect Receptor for Plant Viruses
- Bt Indian Mustard as Trap Crop for DBM
-
Announcements
- International Congress of Plant Pathology
- European Plant Pathology Congress
- Food Safety Workshop in Vietnam
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (September 4, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (August 28, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet