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

D. Agricultural engineering.
In support for the activities in maize production, an improved mobile corn sheller was
developed by the National Post-Harvest Institute for Res. and Extension (NAPHIRE). Its efficiency
is found to be comparable with the existing high capacity shellers in the country giving a ROI
of 53.4X with a payback period of 1.8 years.
At USMARC, sarmiento also developed a versatile low-cost planter with fertilizer applicator
combined. The equipment, which can simultaneously make a furrow, plant seed, and cover seeds
and fertil izer comes in single-row and double-row models. Specifications of the equipment are
presented in Table 6.
Table 6.
Sp&cifications of versatile low-cost planters with fertilizer applicator combined.
Specifications Single row Double row
a. Weight (with seeds and fertil izer) 50 kg 80 kg
b. Total length 1.80 m 1.50 m
c. Seed placement depth 5cm 5cm
d. No. of seeds per hill 1-2 seeds 1.2 seeds
e. Distance between hills 25-30 cm 25-30 cm
f. No. of hrs.to finish 1 ha
using 1 anima1-man power 6-8 hrs 4-5 hrs
g. Seed delivery 16-20 kg/ha 16-20 kg/ha
h. Fertilizer delivery 2-3 bags/ha 2 bags/ha
i. COst/unit P4,5oo P6,OOO
E. Economics of producing (pis and hybrids.
The profitability of producing maize can be gauged from simple costs and return analysis.
At USM, a comparative production costs and return analysis on a per hectare basis was done for a
commercial hybrid maize, rPYs, and the best farmer's selection. Gross returns of the four
varieties used ranged from P22,360/ha with a total cost of P9,395 to Pll,218/ha, and net returns
of Pl,355 to Pll,142/ha. The hybrid maize, P 3228, with Pll,142 net return per hectare, was the
highest. It was followed closely by USM Var 5 with Pl0,816. The lowest was the fanner's
selection with Pl,355.
However, ROI analysis showed USM Var 5 with 101X ROI as highest. The hybrid maize with
the highest net returns was second with 99X ROI. IPS Var 1 and the best farmer's selection were
lowest with 31X and 14X ROI, respectively.
Goverrnent support to the maize industry.
In spite of the significant strides the country has attained in maize production technology
over the past years, currently, the volume of grain supply can hardly meet the increasing
domestic demands for maize products. With the country's aim to be self-sufficient in 1998, an
agricultural plan was conceived on May 1993 to boost productivity in key production areas where
the major crops of the country are primarily raised on the basis of suitability as per land use
and availability ofmarkets. Under this approach, the Dept. of Agric. has identified about
270,000 ha for maize to be covered by the Grains Production Enhancement Program. Moreover, the
key maize grain areas located in 17 provinces will be increased to 700,000 ha in 1998 while
cropping intensity will be maintained. Yields are programed to increase from an average of
3.5 t/ha per crop in 1993 to 5 t in 1998. To support the program, the following components
are included: 1) certified seed subsidy, 2) efficient fertilizer use, 3) irrigation
support, 4) production technolOgy development and dissemination, 5) credit, 6) post-harvest
facilities and technology support, 7) transport infrastructure support, and 8) marketing
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