DA-10 culminates in the conduct of Onion derby at its research center in Claveria town.

 

CLAVERIA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 caps the series in the conduct of an Allium Derby on March 21, at the Research Center for Hillyland Development, in this town.

The said showcase of onion varieties and technologies marks the third leg of the Allium derby following its conduct in Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City (February 15) and at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon (February 22).

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca, who represented Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, shared that results from the series of derby show that there is a big potential for onion in region 10 and will be one of the agency’s bases for seeds procurement.

“I hope that farmers can learn and adopt technologies from this demonstration to boost Allium production in the region,” she added.

Participating seed companies: Allied Botanical, Corp., Kaneko Seeds, Corp. and Ramgo Seeds as well as partner chemical companies: Envireau Pacific, Inc., Tropi-Cuke, Inc. and Plantacote were also given time to share their respective Allium technologies on how they managed their plots over the 5- to 6-month period.

CdeO-based farmer Honorio S. Cervantes, who is known for his Square Foot Gardening, conveyed, “As an advocate for gardening with only a small area, I will try to innovate on some of the technologies I have learned from here,” further adding that it will be his first time to try on Allium production after seeing the derby results.

Meanwhile, each seed company was assigned 500 square meters and their produce was judged based on the highest yield volume (in kilogram), best quality, and best economic efficiency.

Of which, Allied Botanical, Corp. emerged as champions while Kaneko Seeds, Corp. trailed as the first runner-up and Ramgo Seeds as the second runner-up.

Also supporting the derby were representatives from DA-10’s attached bureaus and agencies: Agricultural Training Institute and Bureau of Plant Industry as well as guests from the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council-10, 58th Infantry Battalion, and MisOr, Bukidnon and CdeO local government units and farmers.# (AMBM/Photo credits: RDME)