Plants of the cassava eyed for needs SMC

Philippines, A farm area of at least 23 hectares is eyed for cassava planting in a partnership between the Central Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CVIARC) and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for cassava’s use for feed and fuel.

The CVIARC in Ubay, Bohol, is seen to become a source of planting material for cassava, particularly the varieties KU50 or NSIC CV22 (from the National Seed Industry Council, a seed certification body).

"The target planting material production is good for 23 hectares with 3 to 4 meters with at least 4 to 6 nodes per meter stalk," according to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research which coordinates the cassava planting.

The propagation of planting material will help efforts provide cassava to SMC which a well-known user of cassava for its distillery, for fodder is, and potentially, for producing biofuel. Irrespective of the state university in Bohol, it Philippine research Rootcrops and the training centre (PRCRTC), which is established on the university of the state Visayas in Baybay, Leyte, technical and financial assistance for planting cassava to grant. The government supports spread planting cassava seen plans more washed which can be used as bioethanol raw material. Planting cassava, a plant which in marginal areas can survive become, is being piloted in Regions 2, 10, 7, and 12. After the pilot project, cassava it will plant 4A in areas, 4B, 5, 6, and are extended 8.

"These regions will purchase and obtain their initial planting materials from DA-CVIARC, giving the center an added income to support other RDE (research, development, and extension) activities," said BAR.

Two other crops—Asha peanuts and pigeon pea— are being further field-tested by BAR-affiliated agencies for their use for food, feed, and fuel.

The Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center and the Research Outreach Station in Sorsogon are experimenting on Asha peanut which yields high since the nut’s size is double the size of the local peanut.

Earlier field-tested in Cagayan and Isabela, Asha peanut yielded pod at 41 to 77 percent higher than farmers’ UPL Pn 10, Namnama, and BPI Pn9 varieties during the 2005 wet season.

Likewise, pigeon pea which is used as feed and as fresh vegetable and other processed foods, is being studied at the BAR-affiliated Isabela State University in an aim to increase food production in Region 2. A five-hectare technology demonstration farm will be established so farmers can easily adapt the technology on pigeon pea planting.

"The commercial production of these crops is a good alternative to increase farmer’s income as it will also transfer technologies on the processing of the crops into various by-products at the village level," said BAR.