Adlay harvest from the Cabanglasan model farm is being processed using a multi-crop thresher.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Set on developing more areas to be planted to sorghum as an alternative grains crop, a Field Day on Sorghum Model Farm implemented by the Cananga-an Forestland Managers Association with Romeo S. Sabayton as farmer-cooperator was held at Purok 1, barangay Cananga-an, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

On October 7, 2021, local farmers, agri-extensionists from the provincial and municipal local governments of Bukidnon, other town residents and officials, have mustered to learn a package of sorghum technology.

Of which comprises ranging from its production, care and maintenance, pest and diseases management, postharvest operations and its marketing aspect, among others.

“Said activity is aimed at increasing production and improving quality of sorghum, which will support the livestock and poultry industry, as sorghum can be utilized as ingredients for animal feeds,” according to Jurrybe J. Lachica, sorghum focal person of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10).

He added that the field day comes as an opportune time with DA Secretary Dar’s issuance earlier this year, citing memorandum order 15 on including sorghum under the agency’s Corn Program.

Per implementing guidelines, ten hectares shall be devoted for the sorghum model farm.

Wherein, the agri department provided farm inputs, while the association counterparted an area as well as shouldered the labor costs to realize said Project, in close coordination with municipal agriculture’s office of Cabanglasan.

For farmers still eyeing to engage in sorghum, Ken Christian Ramos, area operations head of the Agribusiness Department Group of San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SFMI) assured, that the company giant will buy their products come harvest seasons.

Reportedly, SMFI buys sorghum with a year-round price pegged at P14 per kilo [assembler’s price].

“This is our way of extending help to farmers. Instead of relying on imports for the demand of our raw materials intended for feeds, we are here so that by the time you [farmers] harvest, you won’t have any problems in looking for a market for your produce,” he conveyed.

Ramos also noted, for farmers to constantly coordinate with the agriculture’s office, be it at the regional, provincial or municipal levels, or with their assigned technicians in the locality, for them to come up with the corresponding purchase requests and have them approved by their management.

Also ahead of the field day, an assessment and evaluation of the documents of another farmer’s group through the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative was also conducted towards passing the requisites of SMFI in becoming a sorghum assembler.

“For many years of farming, I am very thankful for this opportunity to become one of the partners for the implementation of a sorghum model project, as I believe that learning is a continuous process,” Sabayton shared.

He accounted, that there is still room for improvement in following sorghum farming protocols, but went on to say, that he has seen the potential of such resilient crop that only requires lesser maintenance and asserted in producing it in the coming seasons.

Said establishment of a sorghum model farm in barangay marks as the first adoptors regionwide, with learning hub sites in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; Clarin, Misamis Occidental; and Bacolod, Lanao del Norte to follow suit. # (JLO)