GEN. SANTOS CITY -- Efforts to strengthen the marketing of products fashioned out of corn waste materials get a boost with a P1-million allocation from the government, it was learned on Sunday.

Rue Ramas, president of the Corn Husk Association of the Philippines, said the National Food Authority and the Department of Agriculture, through its national corn program, have agreed to extend the fund for the construction of a business center here.

"Both agencies pledged to release P500,000 each this week," she said.

Ms. Ramas said the construction of the business center, where corn husk-based products will be displayed, will pave the way for them to further penetrate international and local markets.

Aside from shipments to the Visayas and Luzon, corn husk handicraft have become popular also in the United States and even to Australia, a handicraft maker in Banga, South Cotabato, earlier told BusinessWorld.

Ms. Ramas, whose group was nominated for this year's city-wide Product Innovator Award, said the potential of corn husk handicraft is bright in the local and international markets.

She said the corn husks will help both the handicraft industry and corn farmers with the latter also earning from the waste products by selling them to handicraft makers.

Ms. Ramas said the price varies depending on the quality of the husks, specifically recommending that of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, which is opposed by the Roman Catholic Church in South Cotabato for its alleged harmful effects to humans and the environment.

She said that in some parts of the country, clean husks from Bt corn sell as high as P20 per sack, while the unclean ones from the traditional counterparts command a price between P10 and P15 per sack.

"Farmers are advised to gather the corn husks and sell them to flower shops in the locality as they can be used as materials for novelty items. Specifically, the husks are transformed into attractive decorations after having painted with vibrant paints. The creative mind and skilful hand can make this material come to life," Ms. Ramas said.

"Collecting the husks is not expensive. The farmer and his family can do this job during their free time. Additional income is desirable. So, do not burn those money-smelling husks, make them usable instead."

The problem with burning corn husks, Ms. Ramas noted, is that it poses health and environmental hazards. For one, the smoke is irritating to the eyes, the smell of burning corn husk induces difficulty in breathing and, worse, it becomes more hazardous when burned along the highway.

On the other hand, when dumped along the road, heaps of corn husk become eye sores. The heaps of corn husks are difficult to decompose, she added.

In handicraft making, corn husks are ideal, said Ms. Ramas, since it has an interesting surface structure and natural color.