The Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 teamed up with the Ilagan City government for a two-day business mission to Thailand to explore advancements in mechanization and development for Ilagan’s corn industry from May 30 to 31, 2024.
The delegation visited renowned Thai companies and government facilities known their advanced corn processing technology and export-quality products.
Its main goal was to assess the possibility of integrating these technologies into Ilagan’s existing infrastructure.
The itinerary included the National Corn and Sorghum R&D Center at Kasetsart University, where the delegation gained valuable knowledge on the latest advancements in maize and sorghum production.
The team also visited the Thai Danish Dairy Farm, a key player in Thailand’s dairy industry to gain insights on formulating policies and government interventions to maximize production in Ilagan’s dairy sector.
The delegation envisioned Ilagan farmers to replicate the success of Thailand’s Hualam Collective Farm-Corn Silage Group that exports an average of 40 to 50 tons to major Asian countries.
Ilagan City, known as the Corn Capital of the Philippines, is a significant contributor to national corn production, generating 15.57 million MT of grains per season.
Seasonal production contributes 2.07 percent to the Philippines’ total and 13.92 percent to Isabela’s output. With a third of its land dedicated to agriculture, the city actively seeks to make corn production more sustainable and profitable for its residents and farmers.
