Proceedings of the Fifth Asian Regional Maize Workshop - Search ...

elow to help clarify the farm level situation. For the hybrid companies, the following
problems are emphasized:
1. The small size of the hybrid seed market compared to the output capabilities of these
companies.
2. The increasingly high costs of research, seed multiplication, and distribution in such
a small seed market.
3. Inconsistent government policies affecting the maize sector such as irregular imports
of grain maize.
The effects of the above problems lead to the high cost of maize production in the
Philippines. Based on recent costs of inputs and market price, the cost of producing a kilo of
maize is P 2.08, 2.8 and 3.46 when using hybrids, OPV's, and traditional varieties, respectively.
(1 US =28 Pesos). This situation encourages importation of maize from countries like Thailand
with a relatively lower cost of production.
III. Agronomic production research on maize
OVer the last twelve years, the National Agric. Resources Res. and Developt. Network
(NARRON) has generated and accumulated significant information regarding technologies related to
maize production. The most recent technologies generated from 1990 up to the present are:
A. Development of high-yielding maize varieties.
As mentioned earlier, a number of high-yielding hybrids and OPVs have been recently
released for commercial production in the country. The hybrids are all three way crosses with
yellow endosperm, while the OPVs are either white or yellow with yield performances comparable
to the hybrids.
Problem
Situation
Implications
Low farm price of maize
Inadequate
facil Hies
drying
Unexprected dry spells
High costs of seed
Limited financing for
production
Mainly in peak harvest
months (July-Aug.)
1-2 months of peak harvest
during the rainy season
(Aug.-Nov.)
During planting period
During growth period
Only for hybrids (P 920
- P 1200/bag)
Poorer farmer trying to
grow hybrid varieties
and/or farmer alienated
by local traders.
Difficult to cover cash costs and
earn adequate income if cultivating
only maize.
"Wet" maize had lower recovery
rate during mechanical shelling,
spoils when stored, has high
aflatoxin level, and leads to
mixing with good quality seeds to
avoid loss.
Delays planting and extends harvest
into low price period and/or
unfavorable weather which means
reduced yields.
severely reduces yields of nondrought
resistant hybrids. Costs
of land preparation and inputs
cannot be recovered.
Limits number of growers and
increases exposure to cash losses.
Encourages dependence on traders
for financial support.
Lower yield than expected from
hybrid varieties. Increases exposure
of farmers to serious
debt problems (cannot share risks
if crop fails).
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