Bongbong Marcos announces a 5.9% rise in corn production

QUICK HARVEST As portions of a corn field in the village of Leet in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, starts to dry up in early February, a farmer uses a mechanized harvester to make his job of harvesting easier amid the dry conditions and absence of rainfall brought about by the El Niño phenomenon. (File photo from WILLIE LOMIBAO / Inquirer Northern Luzon)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday announced a high corn yield despite the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.

Marcos held a meeting in the Palace with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) administrator Eduardo Guillen, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., and some other government officials.

“Our rice harvest increased significantly despite the challenges of El Niño! We yielded 11 tons per hectare, while corn production surged by 5.9 percent. This agricultural resilience is a testament to our commitment to sustainable farming practices,” Marcos said in a Facebook post after the meeting.

In a Palace briefing, Solidum announced a prolonged dry season due to the possible La Niña phenomenon.

READ: El Niño, La Niña together? What to know

Solidum said the government should continue measures like cloud seeding and monitoring food supplies to assist the farming sector.

“DA has implemented the alternate wetting and drying, and with the right seeds because (what) they used, for this year, 60% are hybrid rice, which would utilize less water. Actually, the yield has increased because you don’t need continuous water anyway for the rice,” said Solidum.

“They also implemented the quick turnaround so that people can really plant right away and still use the available water in the soil,” he added.