PCARRD spearheads peanut crop improvement project

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) approved recently an P8-million project to improve peanut production in the Cagayan Valley.

PCARRD, an agency attached to the Department of Science and Technology, said it has approved the implementation of a peanut crop improvement and seed support system in Ilagan, Isabela which will be led by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 2’s Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-CVIARC).

“The new project intends to fast track the selection of better adapted varieties from on-station and on-farm yield trials and the development of improved package of production technologies,” PCARRD said in a statement.

The project was aimed at enhancing the formal and informal seed systems in Cagayan Valley, PCARRD said, adding it “will fine tune production management for confectionery peanuts by coming up with recommendations for plant spacing, fertilization, and soil conditioning.”

Cagayan Valley (Region 2) is one of the top two peanut producing regions in the country, devoting around 20,000 hectares of the region’s land area to peanut production in the early to mid 1990s.

According to reports, Cagayan Valley region accounted for almost half of the country’s peanut production with an average yield of 14, 023 metric tons per hectare.

“Sustainable production in at least 2,000 hectares is being targeted for the next three years,” PCARRD said.

Under the program, the DA-CVIARC will produce 30 tons of breeder, foundation, and registered seeds, while accredited seed producers will produce 110 tons of registered and certified seeds.

Village-level seed storage drums will be promoted, PCARRD said.

“Nearly P19 million worth of seeds will be produced over the next three years by both the formal and informal seed systems. This strategy aims to bolster the expansion of the peanut industry, not only in the region, but also in other peanut growing areas in the country,” the agency said.

“By year 2020, seeds of improved varieties are projected to cover around 10,000 ha of peanuts in Region 2. The productivity is expected to rise to 2 t/ha. The expected value of peanut to be produced annually could worth at least P600 million,” it said.

PCARRD said that as corn production became more lucrative, farmers slowly shifted to corn production. With less than 20 percent of the area planted to peanuts, production has gone down, it said.

“Another factor that has contributed to the dwindling peanut production in the region is the lack of good quality seeds. Low productivity and seasonality of production compound the situation,” PCARRD said.

“Using improved varieties and culture can significantly enhance productivity of peanut production, and consequently, increase farmers’ income,” PCARRD said.

PCARRD said it was able to improve peanut yields in Echague and Jones towns in Isabela province through its “Magsasaka Siyentista” program.

“The use of improved varieties and proper production management can push local yields to as high as 2.3 tons per hectare and 3.01 t/ha, respectively. With a total production cost of around P27, 000/ha, the MS obtained incomes ranging from P44, 000/ha to P66, 000/ha at the prevailing price of P30 per kilogram,” PCARRD said.

PCARRD said local demand for raw peanut averages 70,000 tons annually. However, local production can only supply about 40 percent of the demand while the rest of the requirements are met by importation.