Farmers in Tubao, La Union found a simple way to solve pest damage and boost their income — by turning white corn into chichacorn.
The Halog West Producers Cooperative, made up of 172 farmers and family members, started making the crunchy snack back in 2009. Vanessa Mapalo, the cooperative’s secretary, said the idea came after many struggled with losses caused by worms and other pests on their corn crops. Since white corn is abundant in Tubao, the group decided to turn the damaged harvests into something they could sell.
The cooperative first operated as a small grocery. Later, with help from the local and provincial governments and national agencies like DTI, DA, and DAR, they shifted to producing chichacorn. Members also visited other producers to learn the process and improve their own operations.
By 2014, they secured an FDA license to produce and distribute their snack. The cooperative has grown from a micro to a small enterprise and hopes to reach medium-scale status soon.
Chichacorn has become their main earner. Last year alone, the group posted more than PHP 1.4 million in gross income from the product. Their buyers include pasalubong shops and online customers, and they join trade fairs to reach more people.
The cooperative harvested 8.5 tons of white corn last year, turning more than five tons into chichacorn. They now have their own processing center and equipment, built with support from the local government, DAR, and the cooperative’s 20% counterpart fund.
They are also working on new products, including banana chips and decorative items made from corn leaves.