The genetically modified corn is proving be a money maker for farmers who have planted it despite the protestations of anti-genetically modified organisms (GMO), Bt corn being one of them.

The latest report we have received from Pioneer Hi-Bred is that on Carlos Guevarra, a farmer from Brgy. Anao, Mexico, Pampanga. He recently harvested from his 10-hectare farm planted to Pioneer Hybrid 30Y73, a genetically enhanced corn variety, and averaged a record 10.25 tons per hectare. That's about 153 cavans of corn grain.

Guevarra, according to Pioneer, was able to sell his harvest at P7.50 per kilo. He thus grossed around P76,000 per hectare and since he spent just about P26,000 to produce his crop, he made a profit of P50,000 per hectare. That's a cool half a million pesos from his 10 hectares in a period of less than four months.

Bt corn is enhanced with a naturally occurring protein from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis which protects plants from the Asiatic corn borer, the most prevalent insect corm pest in the country, according to Pioneer. The company said that farmers used to rely heavily on pesticide spraying to control the Asiatic corn borer.

However, even with heavy spraying with pesticides, the potential of incurring yield loss from the pest is very high as it feeds on the cornstalk, leaves, and corn ears leading to as much as 80 percent damage on a farmer's corn field.

According to Pioneer, the Philippines is the first country in Asia to approve a biotech food crop for commercial planting (December 2002). The commercialization of his technology in the country is the result of rigorous greenhouse and field testing, and a science-based risk assessment evaluation process covered by stringent biosafety regulations of the Dept. of Agriculture in coordination with other government agencies. Safety of the technology to human health, animals and the environment was the primary concern of these regulatory bodies.

According to a report from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help alleviate hunger and poverty by sharing crop biotechnology applications, farmers give high value to Bt corn because it is convenient, safe, and a cost-effective technology that allows them to manage risks in an uncertain environment. It also offers insurance against devastating crop losses in years when pest infestations are unusually high.