The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA RFO 5), with the support of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), held a Yellow Corn Production Technology and Harvest Festival or so-called Corn Derby on October 18, 2022 at the corn field of Sta. Cruz, Bombon, Camarines Sur.

A corn derby was held with the aim of providing corn farmers more opportunities to attain higher yields and income. Different varieties of hybrid corn from various seed companies were showcased. It also served as an avenue for knowledge and technology transfer so farmers can decide on the best corn production technologies available in the market. The corn derby also assisted the DA in identifying the best variety of corn seeds that they could procure and later distribute to farmers.  

Farmers from different municipalities of the province and outside CamSur were invited to attend the corn derby. Also, six (6) private seed companies, namely, Syngenta Philippines, Inc., Advanta Seeds Philippines, Bioseed Research Philippines, Bayer Crop Science, Asian Hybrid Seed Technologies, and Corteva Agriscience have participated.

These companies planted different varieties of corn seeds in a 6-hectare field to compete with one another. During the corn derby, farmers had a farm tour on all the booths of the participating companies in order to give them the basis in choosing their preferred corn variety. The DA also chose top 3 companies with the best corn variety.

Of all seed companies, the three (3) chosen companies were, Syngenta, Bayer, and Advanta. Syngenta obtained the highest yield marks during the corn derby. Their two corn varieties named NK6410 and NK6130 landed top 1 and 2. 

The NK6130 is yet to be launched in the market next year, while the NK6410 has already been used by many farmers around the province. It has germplasm features of 100-105 days maturity after planting, a 12 metric tons per hectare potential yield, a shorter maturity of 15-20 days earlier, heavy grains, yellow-orange grains, and is easy to dehusk and harvest.

“Masaya sa pakiramdam kasi kasama tayo sa pagbibigay ng importansya sa pangangailangan ng ating magsasaka kasi ang main purpose natin dito is to uplift the profitability of the farmers. Tulong-tulong yung DA at private companies para maiparating sa kanila yung mga bagong teknolohiya. Ang mga magsasaka mismo ang makaka-observe ng magkakaibang variety at sila yung makakapili visually,” said Ramil Fernandez, District Marketing Manager of Syngenta for South Luzon.

Fernandez also shared that their commitment to improving the lives of the farmers does not stop during the corn derby. They also offer an after-sales service wherein the farmers can still reach them, especially when they have issues and concerns with their corn farming.

The 44-year-old Amelia Marpel of Siembre, Bombon, one of the invited farmers during the corn derby, found the event really helpful for them. She is a rice farmer and a member of Siembre Rice Farmers Association, but is willing to engage on corn farming just like her father. 

“Segun po sa experience ko, puon pa kan sadit ako, an ama ko talaga paratanom na nin mais hanggang ngunyan. Huli man po digdi sa corn derby, naaraman ko kung anong klase ang itatanom ko sagkod naaraman ko kun gurano kadakol an ginugusi sa kada ektarya. Para po sakuya, magayon pong variety an NK6410 kan Syngenta. An ama ko po, NK641O na talaga an ginagamit niya, dai po siya nagbabago nin variety. Magayon po ining itanom asin kulay orange na orange ini,” shared Amelia.

The first corn derby was held at Tinangis, Pili during the dry season. And for the wet season, DA held the event at the corn areas of Bombon.

“It is during the corn derby na makikita po ng farmers natin yung magagandang technology o pamamaraan sa pagtatanim ng mais lalo na yung mga suitable or maaaring lumago ang ani dito sa Bicol region. Sa pamamagitan nito, makikita at matututunan nila yung iba-ibang package of technology particularly sa mga corn varieties. Ang main result po niyan ay mapapataas natin yung kanilang ani na magreresulta sa mataas din nilang kita,” said Earl Vincent Vegas, Regional Rice Focal, Corn and Cassava Program Coordinator from the Department of Agriculture.

On the Provincial Government’s counterpart, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist also assisted the DA in monitoring and validation of corn seeds, assessment, program implementation, information dissemination, and technology transfer, among others.

“We commend Governor Luigi Villafuerte, the whole province of CamSur, especially the OPA, and all our provincial corn coordinators, because they’ve always been very active and proactive in partnering with us in the implementation of the different interventions and programs of the DA under the corn program,” thanked Vegas.

There are also actual demonstrations of agricultural machineries and equipment that can be helpful to the farmers, such as the hammer mill and drone sprayer.

The Department of Agriculture also plans to expand the corn derby to other provinces with major corn areas, not just in Camarines Sur, to reach more corn farmers, boost their farm yields, and uplift their farm productivity.