MORE NEWS, LA UNION

No valid reason for panic buying of corn: party-list
By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Hog raisers were cautioned against panic buying of corn feeds or importing corn by Abono partylist chairman Engineer Rosendo O. So saying this was not needed.

So said during a meeting last year and participated in by the National Federation of Hog Farmers led by Gabriel H. Uy and members of the Central Luzon Hog Farmers, Abono party-list recommended that hog raisers buy corn at prices higher than the prevailing price of P11 per kilo to encourage farmers to plant corn.

"Kung mura ang presyo ng mais, hindi magtatanim ang mga magsasaka dahil hindi sila kikita, kasi mahal ang cost of production," So told the hog raisers.

At that time, the cost of production, including those of fuel and fertilizer, was so high that it was not feasible for the farmers to plant corn.

Most of the farmers, instead of growing corn, planted palay which was then bought by the government at P17 per kilo.

"Walang dahilan para mag-panic ang mga hog raisers dahil malapit nang magharvest ng corn ang Pangasinan at may parating pa na wheat for feeds (There’s no valid reason for the hog raisers to panic because corn harvest in Pangasinan is nearing and there is an incoming wheat imports for feeds)," So said.

Pangasinan is the largest producer of corn in Region I and its harvest in March will boost the supply of feeds for the hog raisers, he said.