Following the successful conduct of market matching activity for mungbean of the three farmers’ associations in Dingras Ilocos Norte with the Nutridense Foods Manufacturing Corporation recently, the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos Region is now keen on pushing to scale-up the mungbean production project with the registration of the “kusapo” mungbean variety.
Mr. Mark Ariel Agresor, leader of the DA’s CPAR project revealed this in an interview made by the RAFIS team during the last leg of hauling the 50-tonner mungbean produced by the members of the CSDCS, United Barong Kalawaan, and Lanas Timpuyog Farmers Associations valued at P3.4 million on June 14, 2022 at the DA-Ilocos Norte Research & Experiment Center (INREC), Dingras, Ilocos Norte.
According to Agresor, the DA-RFO I research team is now in close coordination with the Bureau of Plant and Industry for the registration of the said line to provide a unique identity of the variety that has been produced or originated from the area.
Aside from the variety registration, DA-RFO I thu the Research group is also doing all efforts to strengthen the research centers in the region by way of conducting trainings to seed growers prior to their accreditation at the Bureau of Plant and Industry.
Four research centers will be putting up an area of 0.5 hectares for seed production which shall be established in INREC-Batac and Dingras, ISREC and PREC in San Juan, Ilocos Sur and Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, respectively.
“Kailangan nating unahin ang mga stations bago ang ating mga farmers kasi ang mapo-produce ng ating stations na registered seeds ay maibibigay sa mga accredited farmers para sila na ang magproduce ng certified seeds,” Agresor said.
With the potential yield of 700 kilos for every hectare intended for seed production thru roguing, Mr. Agresor explained that there is a need to plan carefully their next move to avoid influx of mungbean produced in the region that may surely affect price of the produce in the market.
“We have been in close coordination with the High Value Commercial Crops Program which shall be our direct market of these seeds together with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and BPI which are also keen on getting our 1.8 tons seeds available for distribution to farmers, Agresor said.
With the nine accredited seed growers in Dingras who are actively involved in seed production activities, and more shall be trained in other areas with the conduct of related trainings, the Research Group are also getting the farmers ready with the post storage technologies they have imparted to the farmers to ensure high germination of their produce despite storing them for a longer period of time.
“Kahit matagal yan na nakaimbak, okay lang kasi naka cold storage naman. Kahit 3 years, pwede pa ring tutubo kung naka plastic at below 10 MC. Hindi pwede ang 14 MC, dahil sa legumes, mataas ang oil content ng mga yan, bababa ang germination. So, dapat make sure na naka plastic, napatuyo ng mahigit tatlong (3) araw at naka seal,” Agresor added.
While accredited seed growers are enjoying the P160 per kilo of their mungbean seeds, Agresor adviced farmers to start planting mungbean on November to December until January in order to catch the best time to harvest in time for the higher price of the commodity. ###
