TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) -- To help Boholano farmers increase their income, the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA 7) recently conducted two cassava techno demonstration field days in two municipalities in Bohol.

The demonstration was done in the towns of Sierra Bullones and Dagohoy with an area of two hectares each to showcase the performance of the new and matured cassava production technologies.

The ten-month field demonstration was participated in by 17 farmers in Sierra Bullones and 35 farmers in Dagohoy. 

The lakan and golden yellow varieties of cassava were introduced due to its high yield.

Some of the technologies introduced include corn and cassava intercropping, right amount and the timing of fertilizer application, and the planting distance. 

Important agri crop

Cassava is one of the important agricultural crops in the country due to the increasing demand not only as a source for alternate food staple but also for industrial uses.

This crop is drought-tolerant, which can be processed into healthy snacks such as cassava cake, cassava chips, and fries. 

Cassava is also the main ingredient in livestock feeds.

Farmer-cooperator Desederio Legazpi from Dagohoy thanked DA for choosing his area as a demonstration site. 

“Dili natu sayangon ang ilang gi hatag ug gi-tudlo kanato nga pamaagi sa panguma nga arun kita mag malambuon ug molungtad ang atong panginabuhian pinaagi sa pag-uma (Let us not waste what the DA has given and taught us. This will help us improve and sustain our livelihood through farming),” Legazpi said.

Roman Dabalos, DA agricultural program coordinating officer in Bohol, said the agriculture department is giving support to the farmers not only in cassava production but also in other agricultural commodities. 

The techno demonstration is implemented under the Corn and Cassava Program in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Municipal Agriculture Office. (ECB/PIA7 Bohol)