Agriculture Business Week

Even as their farming techniques vary from each other; three farmers in Pangasinan say the same thing about the latest corn hybrid they planted- their yields from it was much higher than from the other varieties they used before.

Anselmo Dionio, 55, of Caaringayan, Laoac town said his recent yield from 3 hectares planted to Bioseed 9909 was as much as 10 tons of shelled corn per hectare. Last year, he harvested an average of 11 tons of shelled corn per hectare using the same variety. This year he also planted 1.8 hectares in Sta. Barbara in partnership with a large-scale poultry raiser, Engr. Manuel Soriano, and estimated that the yield would be also about 10 tons per hectare even as the corn ears were still being dried before shelling.

On the other hand, Edwin dc Asis, 47, of Dumayat, Binalonan planted Bioseed 9909 in 6,000 square meters. He harvested 5,026 kilograms or 8,376 kilos per hectare.

In Barangay Laoac, Tayug, Eddie Castilliero, 45, planted one-fourth hectare to the same variety and harvested 2,287.5 kilograms or 9,150 kilograms per hectare.

Anselmo has been planting Bioseed 9909 for two years already, while Edwin and Eddie have planted it for the first time. But the three of them swear to plant it again, as its yield has surpassed their yields from other varieties.

ORGANIC FERTILIZATION
Anselmo, who worked as a field worker at the International Rice Research Institute from 1974 to 1980, produces organic fertilizer for his own use only. He said that in addition to the genetic potential of variety he is using, the organic fertilizer has helped him increase his corn and rice yields. He replaces the complete fertilizer (14-14-14) that he applies as basal fertilizer with organic fertilizer. Six bags of urea (450-0) are top dressed at about 40 days after planting.

He has been planting Bioseed hybrids since 2005, and so far Bioseed 9909 has given him the highest yield. In the first corn crop this year that he had just harvested, for instance, he got an aver-age of only 7,500 kilograms per hectare from Bioseed 9698, an early maturing variety. This yield level is way below the yield he obtained from Bioseed 9909. This is why he is planting it again for the second corn crop that would be harvested before the wet season rice.

Anselmo, however, was quick- to say that he was able to optimize his yields with organic fertilization. This was the reason that he was introduced to Engr. Soriano, whose corn yields in Sta. Barbara and San Fabian have remained low despite using a commercial organic fertilizer produced in Pangasinan. It has also an obnoxious odor.

It was Soriano’s corn buyer who encouraged him to use Anselmo’s organic fertilizer. Soriano initially bought 200 bags of 50 kilograms each and applied it to his farms in San Fabian and Rosario, La Union. Anselmo said Soriano was apparently satisfied with his organic fertilizer and so he made a business proposition with him on the management of his farm. Soriano’s corn yield increased by 5 tons a hectare, yet Anselmo’s organic fertilizer in Laoac is made of a mixture of chicken manure and farm wastes.

Soriano later contracted Anselmo to manage his corn farms and produce organic fertilizer for him. In their arrangement, Anselmo uses the chicken manure from Soriano’s poultry farm for making organic fertilizer that is used in his corn farms. Anselmo uses his own formulation of beneficial microorganisms for the decomposition of the chicken manure, which lasts for six months. He gets a 50 percent share from the net income.

Since Soriano is going to mill the corn harvest for poultry feed, Anselmo decided that Bioseed 9909 is the appropriate variety. Soriano is highly satisfied with the results and so lie has agreed that this variety is planted for the second corn crop in 2 hectares in San Fabian.

Anselmo strongly favors Bioseed 9909. He said this variety has small corn cobs but the grains are heavy, and the plants are resistant to drought and heavy rains. And although Bioseed 9909 plants are not showy, the income from this variety is great owing to high yield and the heavy weight of the grains. Hence, he decided to use it as long as he produces corn.

He wishes, however, that Bioseed Research Philippines will come out with a Round Up Ready Bioseed 9909 so that he can easily control the weeds. Hand-weeding is a difficult task, but he has to do it even as other farmers are laughing at him because he finds it dangerous to spray the herbicide Round Up on Bioseed cornfields.

By Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico