Gov’t to test new compact corn mill technology

MANILA, Philippines – The government will test a prototype compact corn mill that promises greater portability and higher productivity for corn farmers in remote parts of the country.

The compact corn mill, developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (Philmech), will be tested in Masbate, Bohol, and Surigao del Norte untill the end of the year to determine its viability for commercial use.

The corn mill is meant to help corn farmers increase their productivity and lower their production cost, thereby making them more competitive in the region.

“Corn grits, popularly known as mais-bugas, is a staple in many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, and can also be consumed in communities where corn farming is more viable. But many far-flung communities hardly have or are far from corn-milling facilities,” he said.

The compact corn mill has a grain recovery rate of between 60% to 70%, a competitive recovery level for the production of corn grits.

Around 15% of the Philippine population, mostly located in Visayas and Mindanao, consume corn grits processed from white corn as staple food.

The government is pushing for more mechanization in farms, especially in those that produce grains, as a way to bring down production costs and speed up grain recovery. 

This will help the country’s agricultural sector hold a candle to those of Thailand and Vietnam, two of the most competitive in Southeast Asia.

Many farmers in remote areas still harvest grain manually leading to high labor cost and low recovery rate. The Philippines also still imports much of its heavy farming equipment including grain processing systems and combined harvesters. – Rappler.com

White corn image from Shutterstock