Potato farmers in Benguet are poised to increase production with the rollout of “clean” planting materials developed through research at Benguet State University (BSU).
Grace Backian, director of the Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center, said the clean seedlings have reached farmers and are proven to significantly improve yields. Studies indicate that farms using farm-saved seeds average 16 tons per hectare, while clean seedlings can yield up to 36 tons per hectare.
“Ngayon nakarating sa farmers, we like to increase the availability of clean planting materials to also improve the yield which has been proven to increase based on studies (It can now reach the farmers),” she said in an interview on Friday.
Previously, only 14 percent of potato planting materials were classified as clean, leading farmers to queue at BSU’s research center for limited supplies. A two-year project funded by the Gokongwei Group, with technical support from BSU and partnerships with farmer organizations, is expanding access to quality seedlings.
“The problem has always been the lack of certified seeds,” Backian said. “Most farmers rely on farm-saved seeds that are not checked or certified by the Bureau of Plant Industry.”
The Gokongwei Group has committed to building three greenhouse nurseries in Benguet: one in Mankayan, inaugurated on September 17, and two more under construction in Buguias and Kabayan. These will provide high-yielding, market-preferred varieties like Granola and BSU’s Igorota.
“With the completion of these nurseries, clean seedlings will become more accessible to potato-producing farmers,” Backian said.
The Buguias nursery is already serving about 1,000 farmers, with more households expected to benefit soon. She assured that oversupply is unlikely, given the high demand for potatoes.
The Gokongwei Group, which imports potatoes for its food products, has also pledged to buy farmers’ produce at market prices through a tripartite agreement with BSU and farmer organizations. “This partnership ensures not just access to clean seedlings, but also a ready market for farmers,” Backian added.
