DA-10 through NMACLRC hosts the third corn derby for this wet season, to feature the different hybrid seed varieties of participating private seed companies.

 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) in partnership with private seed companies, started the third leg of its corn derby this wet season featuring different hybrid seed varieties at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, this city.

Six participating seed companies simultaneously planted their corn seed entries in a 1.1375-hectare area in the agency’s complex, which was led by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado together with Executive Officer Major Gerald Dennis J. Loneza of the Mindanao Army Training Group, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army (PA) on Monday, May 30, 2022.

According to RED Collado, the performance of each hybrid corn seed variety will be showcased, highlighting the yield vis-a-vis its production cost, as well as the technologies applied.

Through this, the farmers will learn on the advantages of adopting the planting protocols and technologies used by the seed companies, and from hereon, choose their preferred varieties suitable in their respective areas, the director added.

Staged at the derby are the following companies and their respective corn entries: Asian Hybrid Seed Technologies, Inc. (J505, SUPREME5150); Corteva Agriscience (P3660YHR, P4124YHR); Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc. (BC108G, H101G, BIO CORN HI-FLY); Evo Gene Seeds, Corp. (EVO 709VR, EVO 9310); Bayer Crop Science Philippines (DK8131S, DK8899S); and Syngenta Philippines, Inc. (NK306BGT, NK6505BGT).

Meanwhile, Carmelito R. Lapoot, NMACLRC chief shared, that said activity is a way of showcasing promising corn cultivars to respond to the small farmers’ need to enhance their corn farming productivity and transform this to increased profitability.

He pinned his hope for the corn derby to be sustained in the department’s research centers, and later on, be replicated in more areas in the region.

Of which, DA-10 is set to conduct similar derby at the agency’s partner in agri-development through the Mindanao Army Training Group (MATG), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Philippine Army at Kibaritan Military Reservation, Malinao, Kalilangan, Bukidnon.

Further citing last year’s cropping [dry] season results, the director bared the average yield for each seed company’s highest yielding variety, as follows: Bayer – 12.36 metric tons (MT) (DK81315), Corteva – 9.15 MT (3660YHR), Syngenta – 9.09 MT (NK306BGT), Bioseed – 8.97 MT (BC108), Evo Gene – 8.76 MT (EVO709), Asian Hybrid – 7.21 MT(J505 RRYG), and Green and Grow Technologies – 6.11 MT (X5).

With the generated results of said activity and upcoming MATG’s demo farm, the agri department under RED Collado eyes for more informed corn farmers in a bid to further develop the corn industry. # (RDMElloren)