GININTUANG MASAGANANG ANI
CORN PROGRAM  

Goal:

The goal of Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Corn Program is to increase productivity and production of quality corn for human consumption, feeds and industrial uses, as well as improve farmer's income and quality of life.

Objectives:

1. To increase average corn productivity.

2. To increase farmer's adoption of high yielding seeds.

3. To produce quality corn & decrease post harvest losses.

MAJOR STRATEGIES :

Area – Based Approach
The focus of the program is the development of the farm cluster as its basic production module. A farm cluster is any contiguous prime corn area of at least 400 ha. situated in municipalities within the strategic agriculture and fishery development zones (SAFDZ).

Productivity Improvement
The program focuses on the improvement of corn productivity in the farm clusters. Farmer-focus and agribusiness orientation are the main program thrusts underlying the development of the farm clusters.

Focused Targeting
The program caters primarily to yellow hybrid corn and farmers in prime corn areas.

LGU – Led Program Implementation
The LGUs are charged with the management and implementation of the program at the local field level.

Participatory Approach
Program implementation is undertaken through participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation involving all stakeholders: SCUs, NGOs, POs, Farmers Coops and the private sector.

Capacity – Building
The program promotes local capacity – building in the areas of participatory program management and implementation, research and extension, marketing and agribusiness management to strengthen farmer organizations and entrepreneurship.

Private Sector Partnership
The program engages private sector participation in specific projects aimed at demonstrating its production intensification and mechanization thrusts.

Program Coverage and Targets
The program covers typical farm clusters involving small farm holders and cooperatives within at least 400 hectares of contiguous corn lands with a cropping intensity of 200%, with adequate agricultural extension services and LGU commitment to implement the program.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS:

Irrigation and Water Management
Irrigation and Water Management Component aims at showcasing the advantages of irrigated corn production. This component includes provision of shallow tube wells and small farm reservoirs in the corn farm cluster areas.

Marketing Services
The marketing thrust of GMA Corn aims to ensure reasonable farm incomes through equitable farmgate prices to both corn farmers and end-users. The key factor lies on the production of value-added production and product transformation activities.

Post Harvest Facilities and Infra Support
The main objectives of the post harvest facilities and infrastructure support of the program are: 1) to provide adequate post harvest and processing facilities through increased government and private sector investments to ensure the production of quality aflatoxin-safe corn; 2) to reduce the time, costs and losses of transporting corn and corn-based products from farms to markets through the construction of farm-to-market roads.

Other Infrastructure and Farm Machinery
Pilot Farm Mechanization and Tractor Pool Program.
The Program provides farm tractors under liberal credit terms to LGUs, farmer cooperatives, and the private sector.

Extension Services and Training
The corn training program aims at improving corn productivity through location-specific production technologies by direct farmer training in season-long Farmer Field Schools.

Advocacy and Information Activities
The objective of the program advocacy and communication component is to generate awareness regarding GMA-Corn, the communications plan carries on agribusiness-oriented thrust, highlighting success stories of the Program as well as outstanding farmers or achievers in the production, processing and marketing of corn-based cropping systems; farmer and agricultural technician exchange programs and participation in agricultural trade fair and technical conferences.

Technical Support Services
Technical support services include the OPV Seed Subsidy Program for marginal farmers, trichogramma production program and the soil amelioration and liming program.

Program Management
Main activities cover support to DA-RFU and local government units pertinent to the implementation of the Corn Program and the provision of incentive allowances to LGU extension personnel.