Corn farmers and traders in three of the country’s major corn producing provinces lose at least P760 million a year due to postproduction losses, according to preliminary results of a study conducted by the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), which is led by Executive Director Ricardo Cachuela.
Conducted by Amelita R. Salvador and Hernaiz G.-Malanon, the study assessed the postharvest losses in corn in Isabela, Bukidnon and South Cotabato in 2005 to 2006. Two crops in Isabela and Bukidnon were observed for two seasons, while only one crop in one season was observed in South Cotabato. They observed losses in the farm (harvesting, hauling, shelling and drying) as well as off-farm (procurement and storage).
Preliminary results show that the highest postproduction losses amounting to P318,301,064 occurred in Bukidnon. This is the sum of the P180,471,439 loss in the first season (July-September) and P137,301,064 loss in the second season (December-February).
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