The harvest in the Sorghum Pilot Farm in New Esperanza, Mlang, Cotabato using the donated seeds from Scott Seed Company of Hereford, Texas yielded outstanding results with farmers earning an estimated P120,000 per hectare from the grains yield and silage materials per harvest.
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) initiated Mindanao Sorghum Development Program conducted a data validation yesterday through an actual field harvest in a pilot farm in New Esperanza, Mlang, Cotabato.
Present during the harvest yesterday for validation of the grains yield and silage production was the Municipal Agriculturist of Mlang, Caleb Aaron Fabila.
The municipal livestock and poultry officer, Dr. Charles Boliver, was also present to assess the quality of the grains produced.
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) media team was also present to document the harvest.
The initial results based on the extrapolated data from a 100 square meter area harvest area:
1. Number of hills – 126,500 for one hectare (Ideal density is 140,000 hills):
2. Average Yield At Harvest – 8.4 metric tons (Dried to 14% MC estimate 7.5 metric tons):
3. Average Silage Production/Hectare – 40-metric tons (Chopped Fresh);
4. Age of Sorghum (505 x 5 Variety) At Harvest – 95 Days
5. Farmers Income at P12/kilo of fresh grains – P100,800 (Roughly $2,000) per hectare;
6. Farmers Income at P0.50/ kilo of silage – P20,000 (roughly $500) per hectare.
Since Sorghum could be ratooned twice, the data gathering will continue to cover the first and second ratoon crop to establish the gross income from a one-hectare plot after three cycles.
With these initial data, it is safe to conclude that Scott Seed Co. Sorghum Seeds could be grown well in the island of Mindanao and this could be a profitable crop for our farmers.
The Mindanao Sorghum Development Program is being pushed by MinDA to provide additional grains material for livestock and poultry feeds in Mindanao.
At least two major feed producing companies, PILMICO of the Aboitiz Group, and CP Foods Philippines, a subsidiary of Thailand’s biggest agro-industrial corporation, have expressed intent to buy the Sorghum production from Mindanao.
The crop is also identified as one of the commodities supported by MinDA to address poverty in the region, increase productivity and restart the economy badly hurt by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
#FarmIsTheBestClassroom!
#AgricultureIsCommonSense!
#LetsWalkTheTalk!
(Photos of the trial harvest yesterday were taken by the MinDA Media Team.)
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