The local subsidiary of one of the world's leading providers of agricultural products and technologies is set to unveil the key to the country's food security, specifically in the field of rice and corn productivity.

Monsanto Philippines Inc. will demonstrate the application of new technologies that will enable farmers to enormously increase the yields of those two important crops, which are the staple food for human and livestock consumption.

Increased production of rice and corn is the key to coping with the ever-rising demand of the country's fast growing population, now estimated at some 83 million.

Sufficiency in rice and corn will also enable the nation to reduce and ultimately eliminate their importation and thus save on precious dollars.

Monsanto will highlight how these will be achieved at the Agrilink and Foodlink 2003, the county's biggest and most prestigious international agribusiness and food trade show, which will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on October 16-18.

Monsanto's demonstration at Agrilink/Foodlink 2003 is part of its program to reach out to its local market of over one million rice farmers and more than 200,000 corn farmers in 59 provinces in the Philippines. Nationwide, some 3.3 million hectares to corn.

Among the technologies to be highlighted are Monsanto's Conversion Tillage technology, known as the Tipid-Saka program, which helps conserve soil moisture, prevents topsoil erosion, enhances soil fertility, improves water availability to plants, averts early emergence of weeds, lessens pesticide application, cuts land preparation by half, and minimizes labor cost while maximizing potential yields.

Monsanto will also focus on Magilas 500 Hybrid Rice seed product, which is highly resistant to both the stern borer and the fungo virus. This rice variety is now an important element of the government's food sufficiency program.

The twin events are organized by the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (e-mail frld@info.com.ph)