Sweet, Tasty! Propagating Rare Varieties Of Mondo, ‘Lagkitan’ Saba

“Ang madalas maglakad mas maraming matitisod.”
This is an old Pilipino idiom which means “He who travels often will discover so many opportunities.”
My travel through the backroads of Balindog, Kidapawan led to an accidental meeting with a farmer who grows two rare banana varieties, the Golden Mondo and “Lagkitan” Saba.
The farmer who grows these Saba varieties known for excellent taste, Tido Dicio, shared with me 24 suckers of Mondo Saba and 16 suckers of Lagkitan Saba.
More than half of the suckers were turned over to Tissue Culture Expert Jay Mearns who has a laboratory in Kidapawan City.
In 8 months, Jay will be able to produce at least 10,000 meriplants of both varieties.
That is enough to start an industry and this is all because I ventured into the back streets of Kidapawan.

#KungMayItinanimMayAanihin!