South Cotabato, Philippines | November 21, 2025 – Guided by the leadership of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. and Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Raul D. Teves, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato has initiated the organization of corn farmers across the municipalities of Banga, Surallah, and Tampakan. This effort forms part of the broader Consolidated Corn Farming and Mechanization Program.
According to Engr. Jeffrey A. Cocjin, Agriculturist I, the program aims to support not only rice farmers but also corn and high-value crops farmers.
He emphasized, “Our goal in this program is to help our farmers, not only in rice but also in corn and other high-value crops.”
(Ang atong tumong sa aton nga program kay gusto naton buligan ang aton mga farmers, hindi lamang sa palay kundi pati man sa mais kag iban pa nga high value crops).
As the province moves toward strengthening a more progressive corn industry, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) has begun conducting initial orientations with corn farmers.
“These sessions introduce modern systems and strategies designed to improve farm operations, increase yield, and enhance income, especially within corn-producing communities,” Cocjin said during an interview.
One of the program’s key thrusts is strengthening farmer groups by organizing them into a cooperative, enabling more modern, sustainable, and systematic consolidated farming.
“Through farmer coops, farmers create greater opportunities for growth as the program improves corn marketing and establishes fair, stable pricing—allowing farmers to achieve better profitability and productivity.
South Cotabato’s pioneering consolidated-farming model began with rice: under its Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program (CRPMP), small rice farms of about 50 hectares are grouped and mechanized, which enabled farmers to more than double their yields from about 4 t/ha to as much as 10–12 t/hectares.
Buoyed by that success, the provincial government has now expanded the same approach to corn: it is rolling out a consolidated corn production and mechanization program, with pilot sites and farmer cooperatives already in place.
“Through the Consolidated Corn Farming and Mechanization Program, South Cotabato envisions more organized operations, stronger farmer collaboration, and a substantial rise in corn production,” Cocjin added.
All these efforts contribute to the province’s long-term goal of developing a progressive, modern, and food-secure corn industry.
