After a bountiful harvest with better yields and higher income from their first trial of Canadian potato varieties, farmers in northern Benguet, Philippines are expected to plant more Canadian potato varieties, a post from the Philippine News Agency on July 6, says.
A July 1 report from the Department of Agriculture–Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR), showed data from planting trials done by Manpat, a farmers association in Balili, Mankayan town, and the Seeds and Fruits Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SFMPC) in Natubleng, Buguias.
Initial results from the trials, which took four months to grow, show the imported varieties thrive in the Cordillera highlands with yields higher than regularly used varieties.
The trials were completed under a partnership between the Potato Industry Development Program of the DA-CAR, the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the Prince Edward Island Potato Board and the Canadian Embassy. Eight new potato varieties were introduced through it.
The DA-CAR partnered with the farmer cooperators to do on-farm research and gather data on the new varieties, the post notes. More varieties will be planted in second trials later this year.
