Agri Plain Talk
Vegetable derby at Pacman Farm
The country’s leading seed companies recently showcased their favorite vegetable hybrids at the Pacman Farm of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in Brgy. Banahaw, Malungon, Sarangani province. No less than a thousand farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, government officials, academicians, traders and other enthusiasts trooped to the farm last Tuesday, July 14, to witness the performance of the latest varieties of high-value vegetables.
The derby was a special highlight of the 7th National Vegetable Congress held in General Santos City on July 14 to 16. The boxing champion spent the day with the visitors, signing autographs, posing for pictures with them and partaking of the food prepared for the occasion.
We gathered that Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap had to postpone his trip to Brunei so he could attend the vegetable derby.
The visitors were not disappointed because the vegetables that were showcased really proved to be highly productive. The cucumber varieties of Allied Botanical, Kaneko and East-West Seed were truly fruitful. So were the Atlas tomato of Allied and the Diamante Max of East-West. The Galactica ampalaya of East-West, said to be highly resistant to the Namamarako disease, had a beautiful growth.
The sales and marketing manager of Syngenta was ecstatic in describing their newest sweet corn hybrid, the Super Max which is claimed to be the biggest sweet corn in the country. He says that the Class A ears weigh 350 grams. The husk cover is thick so that the kernels don’t easily dehydrate, hence it has a shelf life of three days. The kernels are sweet and tender, according to him.
The honeydew melons of Harbest Agribusiness were very impressive, so were their watermelons and squash.
Seen with Mayor Fuentebella of Tigaon, Camarines Sur, was his lady agriculturist and other constituents. The lady mayor of Irosin, Sorsogon, was also there with some other town officials.
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