The Estrada administration has intensified its efforts at increasing corn production in Mindanao by establishing a modern corn and livestock facilities center in Misamis Oriental.

To be built at a cost of P22.5 million, the center is part of the P70-billion Mindanao Development Plan.

Secretary Edgardo Angara of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Claveria Corn and Livestock Service Center in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, is an initial step to the construction of a feedstock-livestock complex necessary for the full development of the corn industry.

This project quashes speculations that the Mindanao conflict has affected the government's plan on transforming the region into the country's "new food basket."

Food security through agricultural modernization is the centerpiece agenda of the regime of President Joseph Estrada.

The corn center will provide farm mechanization services such as a mechanical tiller and tractor, and also mechanize post-harvest services such as drying and warehousing.

The DA said these services will address the issues of seasonal availability of corn and is expected to result in improved yields and quality of local produce.

Such improvements can encourage a greater market for the industry and increase employment demand, which will significantly increase the incomes of corn farmers and cooperatives and further strengthen their purchasing power.

The establishment of the corn center is inspired by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), authored by Angara when he was still a senator. It translates the market-led orientation of the department into concrete and viable undertakings, which is clear, visible and sustainable.

Angara said this development paves the way for industrial development of the agricultural sector, providing benefits for its most important constituents - the farmers.

"I have great trust and faith in agriculture paving the way for industrial development," he said.

The DA has other projects undertaken through joint efforts with the National Agribusiness Development Center (NADC). These include the asparagus box factory in Davao that was established for tribal groups, and the corn feedstock service center in Bukidnon which is already selling its products to San Miguel Corp..

In Cotabato, there are banana processing and other subsequent plants for the tissue culture program involving cardava bananas.

All these projects are being implemented in partnership with entrepreneurs, corporate entities, local government units, and financing institutions.

"I would like to believe that we in the DA are fulfilling that role, through our agribusiness development center," he said.

Angara also commended the efforts of the DA regional office for proactively addressing the problems of the corn industry. Hence, the DA expects to fulfill more agricultural projects, addressing the twin objectives of the administration, which is food security and poverty alleviation.