Cebu farmers become licensed seed growers

22 graduate scientists farmer growing seed certification course.

The Provincial Government recently trained 22 local farmers as seed growers to boost local production of corn seeds in Cebu given last December 16 to 18.

Officer-in-Charge Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Saragena Roldan said the training will support the Farmer Scientist Training Program (FSTP) of the Capitol.

" It will also give chance for farmers to earn more , "Saragena said.

The Capitol has been importing corn open-pollinated variety (OPV) seeds from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and in Mindanao for FSTP.

The trainer-speakers were Catalino Higida of the Cebu Technological University (CTU) -Barili Campus, Jun Acabal of the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC), Department of Agriculture (DA), Nancy Quinapon-, Provincal Agriculturist Office (PAO).

Higida lectured on the balanced nutrients needed by corn plants.

He also stressed the need for seed growers in Cebu. 

Acabal on the other hand, taught the farmers of integrated pest management while Quinapon- presented the measures how to prevent post-harvest losses.

Mirabel Amado, Agriculturist II, said the farmers are assured of a market since it will be the Province will be the one to buy the corn seeds from them.

However, these locally produced OPV seeds must first pass the standard of the National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS) of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

" If it passes the standard, it will be called certified seeds and can be sold to the market and a higher value, "said Armado.

The current market price of certified seeds is P35 per kilo. Those without certification are only priced at P15 per kilo.

With the availability of OPV corn seeds, the farmers will have the option other than utilizing native corn seeds again. (Fcc / PIA-Cebu with reports from Xerxes Alkuino City PIO)