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In
2005, a study by Julian et. al. of MMSU in Batac, Ilocos
Norte documented the economics of corn industry in the
province.
Based
on the study, Ilocos Norte planted a total area of 12,320
has in 2005 to corn. About 58% of this (7,200 ha) are
planted to yellow corn while the rest are devoted to
white corn.
In terms of production, a total 49,988 mt of corn was
produced in the province that year. Seventy percent
or 35,116 mt of this were yellow corn and the rest were
white corn.
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Demand
on the other hand was 57,374 mt, of which 79% (45,562.05 mt)
were from the livestock and poultry feed industry and the
remaining 21% (11,811.95 mt) were from the cornik industry.
Based
on these figures, there was a corn shortage of 7,386 mt in
the province in 2005.
In terms
of price, average farm gate price for white corn was P9.45/kg,
more expensive as compared to yellow corn, which is sold at
P7.71 kg. The farm gate prices were driven by the seasonality
of corn supply.
With
the average yellow corn yield of 4.88 mt/ha, farmers incurred
a total cost of P34,678.54 and received a net income of P2,978.41
on the average. Meanwhile, at 2.9 mt/ha yield of white corn,
farmers incurred an average net loss of P9,265.76 due to high
production cost averaging P36,983.27. (Marissa Alumaga, S&T
Media Service)
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