Agri 10, in partnership with private seed companies, conducts a corn derby to showcase the performance of different corn varieties and their corresponding package of technologies at the agency’s research complex in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Carlene C. Collado, DA-10 officer-in-charge, regional executive director remarked, that now with the dynamic and extensive product lines of different seed companies, farmers will have an opportunity to make informed decisions in the selection of corn varieties to be planted through the corn derby.
He added that the activity paves way for the presentation of the latest corn varieties and their corresponding package of technologies enabling farmers to get the most value out from their investments in attaining maximum yield and profit.
Highlighted in the corn derby are the varieties, namely: H101G, Bio Corn Hi Fly and BC108G from BioSeed Research Philippines, Inc.; Supreme 5150 RRYYG and J505 RRYG (Asian Hybrid Seed Technologies, Inc.); P4124YHR and P3660YHR (Corteva AgriScience); EVO709 and EVO9310 (Evo Gene Seeds, Corp.); DK8899S and DK8131S (Bayer Crop Science Philippines); and NK6505BGT and NK306BGT from Syngenta Philippines, Inc.
Agronomic and yield components, ranging from average ear and plant height, ear diameter and length, weight of seeds, shelling recovery, and yield per hectare were revealed based on the generated results from the crop cut.
With bulk of next year’s budget under DA’s Corn program focusing on seeds, the agri chief executive further said, that the corn derby results will count as one the department’s basis in the procurement of seeds, at the same time considering farmers and local governments’ requests.
Almost 160 participants, comprising of corn farmers and agricultural technicians from the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia, and the towns of Lantapan, Manolo Fortich, Cabanglasan, and Impasugong, all from Bukidnon province, have attended the field day.
On top of the seed companies’ showcase, mustered participants also learned the most recent innovations from agriculture farm chemical and motor companies, of which their products are also seen to complement farmers’ preferred hybrid corn variety in boosting farmers’ productivity and earnings.
“As a front-line, it is important to know the performing hybrid corn varieties readily available in the market so that we could at least suggest to our farmers, especially those that will fit in their respective barangays,” Myra S. Abejuela, Malaybalay City corn coordinator conveyed.
Likewise, she pinned her hopes that through the farmers she brought with her in the corn derby, including their corn federation president and officials from corn growers’ associations, that they will also share the basket of technologies from the event to their fellow corn farmers and eventually, altogether adopt the hybrid technology. Also gracing the activity from DA-10 are Field Operations Division chief Luz I. Guzman, PhD and Regional Corn coordinator Richan D. Lacanaria; Research Division chief Cora A. Dumayaca and Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex chief Carmelito R. Lapoot; Provincial Operations Chief for Bukidnon Janet D. Lopez, DVM; Research Center for Hillyland Development Berly F. Tatoy, PhD; and Guillermo L. Duran, senior science research specialist of the Research Center for Upland Development; and OIC-Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia Lagamon. # (JLO)