Market Opportunities and Constraints in the Market Value Chain of Corn in Davao del Sur/ John Cyril A. Navarro, Jonnel T. Boog and Louilien G. Codilla.

This study of chain of agricultural products like corn is vital to its marketing. This study was conducted to understand opportunities and constraints of the value chain of corn in Digos City Particularly, the area planted, varieties of com planted, number of times planted in a year and the harvest amount are also identified. An interview guide was employed through face-to-face interaction. The respondents of the study are the three (3) farmers of selected areas in Balabag and Goma in Digos City Thematic analysis was used to process the qualitative responses from the interview with the farmers The results revealed the market opportunities of com in Digos City is included in major staple foods which are sold to the retail market particularly the varieties like Aguila, cracked corn, popcorn, white com and yellow com Other market opportunities are feeds (chaff) Various actors are involved in the value chain, especially in the market chain. The price of com from the farm gate to the traders and manufacturers in Davao City vary. It was revealed that the market is still unsaturated, hence many farmers can still supply their com harvest to the traders. There are major constraints to the market chain the harvest first one is market access because the road from farm to market is very difficult because of the terrain, distance and the remoteness; Other constraints in production is weather, lastly and the most crucial constraint is information on the buying prices of the traders Hence, intervention in the form of networking, transport facilities and information technology are recommended.
Keywords: Corn, Opportunities and constraints, Thematic analysis