Sweet potato variety for Mindanao
This camote is no ordinary root crop.
It can yield as much as 31 tons (31,000 kilograms) per hectare and earn for its grower a net income of P104,000/ha.
Named JK-02-20-4, it bested 15 other sweet potato varieties subjected to an advanced yield trial by a research team of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU) 10 (Northern Mindanao).
The trials were conducted at the DA-Northern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center (NOMIARC) in Dalwangan,
JK-02-20-4 turned out 31.1 t/ha, outyielding the check variety (JK-027 or PSB SP 30) during the wet cropping season.
In terms of average weight of roots per plant, JK-02-20-4 had the highest mean of 406.3 grams.
Its dry matter content (DMC) was 34 percent. DMC indicates the starch content of the roots and a variety with DMC or 30 percent or higher is good for processing.
In terms of cost and return, JK-20-20-4 produced a net profit of P104,000/ha.
For the dry season cropping, JK-02-20-4 yielded 30 t/ha and the DMC was 40 percent.
The check variety (NSIC SP 30 or JK-027) had 14.50 t/ha. Cost and return analysis showed that JK-2-20-4 got the highest net return at 71,000/ha.
In view of its good performance (yield, DMC, good acceptability in terms of taste and profitability), JK-02-20-4 has been recommended by the National Rootcrops Technical Working Group to the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) for nationwide commercialization. — Rudy A. Fernandez
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