A Ray of Hope! Protein-Rich Alfalfa Grows In Mindanao

Polomolok, South Cotabato – In a small patch of land in the middle of the vast pineapple plantations of Dole Philippines, the protein-rich leguminous shrub Alfalfa grows and gives hope to the country’s livestock farmers, including racehorse owners in the country.
The Alfalfa experiment is part of the bold moves of the newly-formed company, Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures Inc., headed by former Senator Panfilo Lacson, to contribute to the food sufficiency program of the country.
Alfalfa is an outstanding feed material for cattle, goats and horses but there had never been a serious attempt to grow and propagate it in the Philippines because of the myth that it would not grow in tropical countries.
Early this year, however, Filipino-American farmer-scientist Rocky French brought with him a pack of Alfalfa seeds and we both agreed that we should try sowing it in three different areas of Mindanao.
It was sown in Talakag, Bukidnon at 1,400 meters above sea level, in Kidapawan at 300 meters above sea level and finally, in Polomolok, South Cotabato at 500 meters above sea level.
In all these three trial sites, Alfalfa grew thus shattering the myth that it would not thrive in the Philippines.
The only unknown that we face right now would be whether the tonnage of the yield would make planting Alfalfa a profitable farming activity in the country.
That question will be answered by November when we will cut our Alfalfa for the first time and quantify the yield per hectare.
It will not be a long wait for an answer which could bring ray of hope to many livestock farmers in the country.
#TheFutureBelongsToTheBrave!
#WhenTheySayItCantBeDoneDoIt!
(First three photos show the 38-day old Alfalfa in a trial plot in Polomolok, South Cotabato while the three other photos show my Anglo Nubian Goats, the Wagyu of Adelaide River Farms and a racehorse in the Philippines.)