CASSAVA MORE PROFITABLE THAN CORN.

CASSAVA MORE PROFITABLE THAN CORN. Cyril Cattiling, who owns a six-hectare cassava farm, smiles when discussing how he produces cassava. One secret he agreed to share is how he gives his crop TLC (tender loving care). He believes that with TLC, he and his fellow farmers in Alfonso Lista, Ifugao can have a bountiful cassava harvest. A proud father and husband, Cattiling is a hands-on cassava grower. He is also the president of the Ifugao Tapioca Growers Association (ITGA) and farm manager of the Yao Jia Xi Corporation, which supplies cassava granules to the San Miguel Corporation (SMC). The ITGA started in 2015 to organize all cassava growers in the municipality. It is composed of 75 members. Meanwhile Yao Jia Xi, a farming corporation, gives planting materials to and shares technology with farmers who are members of ITGA. The ITGA sells dried and granulated cassava to the Yao Jia Xi Corporation which then sells the same to SMC, a consistent buyer. Using a solar dryer and granulator for their cassava, the ITGA produces 250 to 300 bags of granulated cassava, which SMC buys for ₱9.70 per kilo Farming has always been Cattiling’s main source of income. He started cassava production in 2012, shifting to it from corn farming. Just like him, his fellow Ifugao farmers were once corn growers. But because of the high production cost of corn, some of them diversified to cassava production. Cassava has better economic benefits. “Cassava [production] offers a better income compared to corn,” said Cattiling, noting that this is true even though cassava is harvested just once a year. One hectare of corn earns him ₱25,000 while cassava gives him ₱130,000 per hectare from a capital of ₱30,000. With good land preparation and available markets, cassava can be profitable Related post: opportunities in garri value chain. Cassava value chain. Agribusiness management with cassava as focus of study.