EVALUATION OF YELLOW CORN OPEN POLLINATED VARIETY, YELLOW CORN GMO AND WHITE CORN PRODUCTION IN POLOMOLOK, SOUTH COTABATO.

The study was conducted in selected barangays in Polomolok, South Cotabato from February-May 2022 to evaluate the current situation of corn production in the area. The study employed descriptive statistics, and Cost and Return Analysis to determine the profitability of corn farmers.

In terms of farm management practices, corn farmers follow a similar pattern in other areas, from land preparation through post-harvest. Majority of the farmers have been in corn farming for 21 years and above. Result showed that majority of the corn farmers owned the land they farm. Harvesting and planting are the most labor-intensive processes in corn production.

As per marketing practices, corn farmers choose to sell their products directly to the traders. Farmers used elf and horses as their means of transportation with an average of ten to twenty pesos per sack depending on distance and location while horses have an average transportation cost of one hundred to one hundred twenty per sack.

Pests such as white flies, corn borer, hopper burn, and plant hopper, as well as rodents that destroy the crops, and high farm inputs, non-roundup resistant variety, weather conditions, and thefts were among the prominent constraints faced by corn growers. The farmers also received supports from the government such as seeds, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. Most of them did not receive seminars and training about corn farming.

Lastly, with regards to profitability of corn farmers, the researcher found out that yellow corn open pollinated variety, yellow corn GMO and white corn is considered profitable to venture since the calculated return of investment (ROI) are all positive which means the total returns are greater than any associated costs by the farmers. Hence the government may conduct seminars and trainings, develop provisions that would reduce farm input costs, provide road and infrastructures and white corn farmers must avoid using herbicides.