More a than a year after the commercialization in the Philippines of the genetically modified (GM) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, the technology enabled farmers to harvest a record corn yield of 10.25 metric tons (MT) per hectare which may contribute to the Philippines' predicted 10 percent increase in corn production in the first half of 2004.

Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines Inc. (PHBP), GM technology developer which adopted the Bt corn technology among its products, said in a statement that farmers in Mexico, Pampanga recorded during the last cropping a yield of 10.25 MT per hectare using the BT variety YieldGard Corn Borer Protection.

"Carlos Guevarra is one of the many corn farmers who have experienced first-hand the potential gains of planting a biotech-enhanced the corn variety. Planting biotech-enhance varieties is a available option to ensure that farmers get the optimum yield from their corn crops without having to worry about unexpected losses that can be brought by corn borer infestation," said Jet Parma, PHBP business manager.

Guevaraa has used Bt corn on all his 10-hectare land with the hope of high yield. At a conservative corn price of P7.50 per kilo, PHBP said that farmers' income in Bt corn with a 10.25 MT yield results in a gross income of P76,000 and a net income of more than P50,500 per hectare.

As of year-end 2003, Monsanto Philippines Inc. which tested Bt corn from greenhouse to multiple locations in corn-producing area nationwide, claims that the GM variety has been planted on 12,000 hectares. With its expansion, the technology is believed to contribute to a 10 percent increase in corn production in the country reaching to some 2.2 million MT as predicted by the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS).

PHBP reported that aside from the high yield in Bt corn, farmers in Kinuman Norte, Ozamis City also harvested a high yield of 9.4 MT per hectare using a hybrid corn variety.

"Upon harvesting, Rustom Paraojinog was able to obtain a total yield of 9.4 MT per hectare. In terms of kilos, he was able to harvest 9,400 kilos which he was able to sell at P7.50 per kilo. This earned him a total income of P70,500," Vinesio Soguilon, PHBP national sales and marketing manager.

Farmers in Pinukpok, Apayao also experienced during the last cropping a high yield of 6.347 Mt per hectare for the non-GM hybrid corn variety.

"Farmers should be very conscious not only of the price but primarily on the quality of the seeds they will be using as planting material. Yield performance is highly-dependent on the quality of seeds which farmers use. Ultimately, this will determine the income they will earn after almost four months of hard work-tilling the soil and tending their crop," said Soguilon.