MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--The Department of Agriculture (DA)-10, headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, together with private seed companies, introduces the latest yellow and white corn varieties via a corn derby, kicking off with a ceremonial planting here, May 16, 2023

The activity aims to champion the performance of 17 corn cultivars for this wet cropping season in the 968-meter-high area's climate and soil conditions.

Collado said the corn derby is an opportunity for farmers to compare the performance of various corn cultivars before deciding on their preferred cultivars based on yield, resistance to pests and diseases, drought tolerance, production costs, and returns.

Eight seed companies participated in the event, showcasing their diverse corn varieties planted on a 764-square-meter plot. The Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) hosted the event.

These include Syngenta Philippines, Inc. (NK505BGT), Bayer (DK8899S and DK8131S), Bioseed Research Philippines (H101G and B9909G), Corteva Agriscience (P3660YHR, P3645YR, and P4124YHR), RJR Agro-Industrial Enterprises (Maharlika 315, Maharlika 514, and Maharlika 8888), and Evo Gene Seeds, Corp. (Evo 9307).

Rounding up the list of participating entities are Asian Hybrid Seed Tech, Inc. (AH Supreme 5150 and J505) and Vigour Seeds Development, Inc. (Mais Swerte, Maize D30, and Mais Tisa), with the last two entities deferring their planting due to their early-maturing corn variety entries.

"We thank DA-10 for this [corn derby] initiative as this will be a great help for our corn farmers to determine which cultivars are appropriate and fit to be planted here in Northern Mindanao," Allan Presillas, Research and Development manager of Vigour, said as their company embarks on their first ever participation.

NMACLRC chief Carmelito R. Lapoot also reminded DA-10's partner seed companies to provide packages of their planting protocol in a briefing to generate corn derby results properly and for information dissemination.

For the current year alone, DA-10 is set to procure P265.2 million in hybrid yellow corn seeds intended for 22,100 hectares of corn farms.

Leading the ceremonial planting are Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota Madriaga, Field Operations Division Chief Luz Guzman, Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center Chief Janet Lopez, and other staff from the Research and Operations Divisions of DA-10, along with representatives from the seed companies. (DA-10/PIA-10/Bukidnon)