A workshop was conducted at the Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC) on January 23 for a new project titled Assessment of Socio-economic Outcomes of the National Quality Corn Achievers Award Program. The two-year research project is funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research. The workshop was aimed to provide the project team with better understanding of the corn industry and its current developments, as well as relevant information for developing approaches and strategies for the scoping study and actual project implementation. Ayn Kristina M. Beltran, head of the Cereals Section of the Institute of Plant Breeding, was invited to talk about the corn industry situation in the country, production practices, and current challenges. Meanwhile, Dr. Edralina P. Serrano, adjunct professor of the PHTRC, discussed the DA’s Corn Program and the National Quality Corn Achievers Award Program (NQCAA). Lastly, Dr. Dormita R. del Carmen, PHTRC Research Coordinator and Assistant to the Director, shared lessons and insights about the corn clustering program which may have implications on the NQCAA. The NQCAA recognizes the achievements of top performing local government units (LGUs) and DA regional field offices in producing quality corn. This is to support the development of the corn industry, enhance corn cluster participation, and strengthen DA-LGU partnership in the production of quality corn. Awards are annually given to the top LGU provinces, cities/municipalities, provincial agriculturists/agricultural officers and municipal/city agriculturists/agricultural officers, provincial corn coordinators and municipal corn coordinators, and agricultural extension workers. Regional Corn Teams are also recognized. Awards consist of monetary incentives for farm inputs, machineries, facilities, equipment and corn grain price support, with the desired outcome of improved and sustained productivity and quality of grains. (MV Maunahan)
