Isabela farmers fascinated by Bioseed corn

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

Favorable experiences with Bioseed corn varieties have kept a good number of corn farmers in Isabela province to continuously use them and become “loyalists” to those varieties.

One of them is Jeffrey Lumabi of Ugad, Tumauini, former enlisted personnel in the Philippine Army for seven years. He has been planting Bioseed 9909 for two years now “because the seeds are cheaper than other varieties and the yields are higher.”

In the first season, he planted one hectare with Bioseed 9909 and harvested 160 bags or 8,480 kilograms (kg) of shelled grains. At Pph8.50 a kilo, his gross income was Pph72,080. His previous yield from the same area planted to Bioseed 9909 was only 70 bags of shelled corn.

Even when drought hit his corn crop last year, he still got 130 bags/ha. Thus, he said he will now plant his 20-hectare corn farm with Bioseed 9909.

“I have already tested this variety and so I also recommend it to other farmers,” said Jeffrey who provides farm financing, including seeds, to 20 farmers.

Also in Tumauini, husband and wife Jose Baquiran and Laurentina Somera-Baquiran, 76 and 72, respectively, said that in case of a calamity, they would not lose much if they plant a variety, like Bioseed, whose seeds are much cheaper than the other varie-ties.

For three cropping seasons, Bioseed 9909 and Bioseed 9698 have fascinated them as these yielded better other varieties. This became even more evident during the long drought last year when Bioseed 9909 “still produced something while the other variety was a heart breaker,” the couple said.

Despite the long drought last year, Santiago Tumaliwan, 45, even increased his area planted to Bioseed 9909 in the second season. A former officer in the Philippine National Police, Santiago planted 15 ha in the first season. Although a long drought hit his crop, he still harvested 120 bags/ha because rains came before tasseling.

“Those who planted other varieties at the same time with me harvested almost nothing but fodder for their livestock,” Santiago said.

Because of the performance of Bioseed 9909, he increased the area from 15 ha to 24 ha. “The upright leaves catch all the rains that may come, bringing the water directly to the roots of the plants,” he added.

For Domingo Salada also of Tumauini, 60, it was difficult for him to believe that a variety he has been planting in the past would be out yielded by Bioseed 9909. In the past, he was harvesting 12,240 kg of shelled corn from 2.3 ha. From the same area, Bioseed 9909 yielded 15,980 kg, an increase of 3,740 kg. He planted 3.5 bags (66.5 kg) of seeds in 2.3 ha to attain a high population density.

Bioseed 9909 also caught the fancy of Modesto Garo of Brgy. Santiago, Reina Mercedes, 59, because of its resistance to drought. Having been planting hybrid corn since 1988, he knows too well that this variety behaves so differently from the other hybrids.

It was only in 2005 that Bioseed corn varieties caught his fancy “because of their resistance to drought.” From 1.8 ha, he was still able to get 158 bags of shelled corn weighing 10,270 kg. This means that he got an average 5,705 kg/ha, which is not bad during a prolonged drought of 45 days.

Jowey Asuncion of Brgy. Sinigpil, Reina Mercedes, also planted Bioseed 9900 in 2 ha in 2005 and harvested 5,850 kg of shelled corn per hectare. He planted 2 ha again in 2006 with Bioseed 9698 and harvested 6,175 kg/ha. In his crop during the drought last year, he got only 89 bags per hectare but that was much better than his neighbors almost got nothing from the other varieties.

Benjamin Palteng, 45, has also been planting Bioseed 9909 for three times already since 2005. He planted 5 ha for his first crop and harvested a total of more than 500 bags (30,000 kg), which was sold at Pph210,000. His second crop was slightly hit by drought, bringing down his yield to 450 bags or 27,000 kg, and the third crop was still on the ground when we visited him.

Overall, these farmers testify that no other variety could perform as well when drought strikes.

(Readers may reach columnist at spablico@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/harvest-time/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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