Aside from its world heritage rice terraces, the mountains and hills of Ifugao offers another scenic view during the months of March and September. At these periods, the corns are now ready for harvest in the rolling terrains of Alfonso Lista and Aguinaldo.
Corn farming is one of the major economic activities in this eastern part of Ifugao. In 2013, the province recorded a total corn production of 106, 449 MT. “We are planting corn here in the lower Aguinaldo while those in the highlands have their rice terraces. Some also plant cassava and legumes. But corn has the largest production,” says Alma Maguiwe, the manager of the Aguinaldo Marketing and Development Cooperative (AMDC).
The AMDC is the only cooperative in Aguinaldo providing agricultural services to locals. Organized by a foreign donor in 1999, the Cooperative gave farmers an access to low-cost agricultural inputs. “Binuo namin itong coop kasi sobrang mahal ng mga farm inputs. Nagpapautang ang mga traders na may interes na 30 hanggang 35 percent. Tapos mababa rin naman ang bili nila,” shared the 53-year old manager.
As their numbers grow, from 30 to more than 600, the services offered by the organization are also increasing. They are now offering a credit and savings, rice milling, and the latest is the corn drying.
The group of Maguiwe received the village-type corn dryer through a counter-parting scheme from the Department of Agriculture in 2012. “Tinulungan kami ng isang taga agriculture office para makasama kami sa program ng DA,” she recalls. “Masaya kami kasi maimprove na yung quality ng products nila. Kasi kapag ganitong tag-ulan, kahit na maganda ang itsura pero kapag hindi na-dry agad, imbes na class A babagsak sa class C.”
She even remembers a time when her corn sprouted due to delayed drying. “Tumubo yung mais ko noon. Ayaw talaga nilang bilhin. Pinagiling ko na lang para sa pagkain.”
“Ang mga traders ang nagdidictate ng price; hindi kami makapag-demand for higher price. Buti meron na itong dryer, at least nakukuha na namin ‘yung tamang presyo,” she happily shared.
During peak season of corn harvesting, specifically during rainy season, the dryer operates continuously-- day and night. Prior to the picking of corns, farmers register their drying schedule in the cooperative. Farmers pay P600 per hour for the drying services.
The village-type dryer is not the only mechanical dryer in their community. “Mayroong dryer sa Alfonso Lista, pero pangit ang outcome. Ayaw nila [magsasaka] mag-dry dun kasi nakikita nila yung quality dito compared sa krudo ang gamit.”
The dryer at the AMDC uses the PHilMech multi-fuel biomass furnace. The furnace was designed to use rice hull, corncobs, wood chips, or saw dust as fuel. It can dry grains from 30 percent moisture content down to 14 percent in six to eight hours. It has a temperature controller and an automatic feeder, thus it requires less operator attention.
Aside from the low drying cost, the PHilMech multi-fuel biomass furnace is environment-friendly as it meets the limits on carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, gas and particulate emission set by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-OMB).
Farmers of Aguinaldo is practicing the late harvesting system.
“Dahil na rin sa mahirap ang drying dito, matagal bago namin i-harvest,” the manager said. In the late harvesting system, initial reduction of the kernel’s moisture content takes place.
The cooperative also accepts non-members to use the drying facility. The overwhelming response of the farmers on the drying facility prompted the AMDC to train additional operators. They were also visited by the equipment manufacturer, Agri Component Corporation, as part of their aftersales services.
Farmers sell their produce to the traders in Alfonso Lista, according to Maguiwe. But they are also planning to have their corn trading “Plano rin namin na bumili ng fresh kernels para karagdagang income pa sa coop.” In addition to their plans, they want another grain mechanical dryer with the biomass furnace.
“’Yung dryer, hindi lang nakatutulong sa mga farmers kundi nakatutulong rin ito sa paglaki ng aming coop,” Maguiwe shared referring to the income from the corn dryer. From the starting 40,000 shared capital, the cooperative has now 29 M worth of assets. “Last year, may net income kami from the dryer na 300,000 pesos.”
Being a manager for 14 years, Maguiwe joyfully shared that what they are now is their vision 15 years ago--serving the local farmers. “Kailangan dapat matiyaga ka. May dedication ka para magtagal ang coop.” She also encourages her colleagues to participate in training and seminars and to share their learnings to others. At present, she trains younger members and prepares them to continue their successful path toward the rising corn industry in Ifugao.