MANILA, Philippines – Ramgo International is investing some P5-million in its expansion program that includes the setting up of a new research station in Polomolok, South Cotabato which was inaugurated last October 28.

The new research station, according to Ramgo general manager Pamela Ong Chan, is one of the steps the company is taking in its bid to become the country’s No.1 seed company. It is launching its own vegetable breeding program to produce new varieties of mostly “pinakbet” type vegetables for lowland production.

As of now, Pamela said, the Ramgo research team is concentrating on evaluating the performances of vegetables and other field crops (watermelon, sweet corn, etc.) at the research station as well as in cooperator-based trials, and pre-commercial trials. She explained that cooperator-based trials test the performances of varieties under favorable as well as unfavorable conditions to determine whether or not the crop is a potential variety. If the crop is proven to be a potential crop, it will undergo multi-location trials in different areas in the country to see how the variety will fare in different parts of the country.

Varieties that will withstand harsh and stressful conditions in the pre-commercial trial will be multiplied for commercialization. Pamela said this will ensure that the seeds that they are distributing are adequately tested and are of superior quality.

The inauguration of the PRS was attended by more than a hundred delegates consisting of seed dealers all over the country, government officials, members of academe and farmers. Dr. Rene Rafael Espino, head of the High Value Commercial Crops section of the Department of Agriculture was the guest speaker.

The visitors witnessed the various crops that are undergoing evaluation at the research station. These include 15 varieties of cucumber, five ampalaya, six eggplant, six tomato, 8 sitao, 6 sweet corn, four watermelon, 7 hot pepper, 4 squash, radish, patola, upo and okra.

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AGRI FORUM TOMORROW. A whole-day symposium titled “Facing the Challenges: Agenda for Action for the Philippine Agriculture Sector” will be held tomorrow, Nov. 5, at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in Diliman, Quezon City. The forum will present highlights of policy papers prepared by the College of Economics and Management of UP Los Baños.

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HERBAL FESTIVAL.The 3rd Pinoy Herbal Festival will be held on Nov. 18 to 20 at the AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan will lecture on medicinal plants on the first day. Cooking with herbs will also be demonstrated.