Marginal corn farmers in Cagayan Valley are now considering going into peanut production with the introduction of big-seeded peanut varieties such as Asha and Namnama. The introduction of these varieties has provided an option for the farmers to shift to peanut production in frequently flooded and drought-prone corn areas. These two varieties were developed by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in Patancheru, India.
In field tests conducted at the Department of Agriculture-Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-CVIARC), the two varieties were found to be high yielding.
The promotion of these varieties was made possible by the information campaigns of DA-CVIARC, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region 2, Cagayan Valley Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVARRD), and PCARRD.
In a related development, a consultative meeting of the proponents of the “Big Peanut Negosyo” in Jones, Isabela was held on March 5 in Echague, Isabela. The meeting was convened to facilitate the proponent’s preparation of a proposal in accordance with PCARRD’s TechnoMart project guidelines.
PCARRD’s Dr. Arturo S. Arganosa chaired the meeting, which was attended by DA-CVIARC researcher Rose Mary Aquino, CVARRD Techno Gabay Coordinator Perla Pascua, Jones, Isabela Municipal Agriculture Officer Florante Leano, and Jones Administrator Mario Duerme.
Action plans
While the technology in peanut production is encouraging, the market is reluctant to absorb the produce of the farmers because the existing shelling machines are no longer compatible with the big-seeded varieties. Traders are required to deliver peanuts in shelled and even in pre-graded form.
Such concern necessitates the establishment of the Peanut Service Station as a marketing solution primarily to cater to the needs of farmers, traders, and processors. Action plans were also made during the meeting such as exploring the possibility of availing a peanut production loan from LandBank; DA-CVIARC’s submission of proposal on pilot testing of peanut grader and sheller to PCARRD for DOST- Technology Innovation for Commercialization Program (TECHNICOM) funding; and CVARRD’s preparation of project proposal for the conduct of a feasibility/profitability study for possible PCARRD funding.
