For Food Security! 56 New Soybeans Varieties In Kidapawan City Trial Farm

Today, Feb. 18, 2024, we completed the task of sowing the seeds of 54 new Soybeans varieties in our Trial Farm in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.
The 54 new germplasms bring to 56 the total of Soybeans varieties which we included in our experiment to determine which of these would adapt and produce well under Philippine conditions.
Earlier, we planted two varieties from India, all Non-GMO, which are now developing pods at 45 days old.
The 54 new Soybeans varieties were sent to me by my friends and supporters from abroad and the entry of these germplasms was facilitated by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) through Director Glenn Panganiban.
This is a major development in our Soybeans Industry in the country which had not been given enough attention and support in the past in spite of its importance to our Food Security Program.
Right now, the Philippines imports an estimated P6-B worth of Soybeans products mainly because we failed to develop our Soybeans Industry.
One of the main reasons behind the stunted growth of the industry is the lack of high yielding varieties with the farmers using only the commonly available Manchuria White and Black varieties.
With the experiment involving 56 new varieties, I expect to be able to identify at least 4 of the best based on yield, beans sizes, adaptability to Philippine conditions and resilience to common diseases.
It will take sometime before we could completely identify these outstanding varieties and a lot of patience and perseverance are needed in this undertaking.
On my part, I consider this as a big challenge in proving that our country could actually reduce its dependence on highly imported products if only we have the resolve, determination and patience to undertake studies like this.
By doing this, I hope to enlighten our policy makers and economic managers that Food Security is achieved not with immediate and temporary solutions like importation but through a well-planned long-term agriculture program.

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(This video was edited by Stephen June Ehidio Fajardo who will soon be helping me in producing a weekly Agri Podcast.)