MINDA ASKS TEXAS SEED COMPANY: SET UP MINDANAO SORGHUM NURSERY

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has invited a Texas-based Sorghum Seed Production Company to support the agency’s Sorghum Development Program by establishing a nursery in Mindanao.

Scott Seed Company, which in 2019 donated 25 metric tons of Sorghum Seeds to MinDA through the Davao del Norte Provincial Government, was asked to consider the setting up of a seed production nursery following successful field trials conducted last year.

The progress of MinDA’s Sorghum Development Program, however, has been stunted by the difficulty and expense in shipping Sorghum seeds from Texas to Mindanao, especially during the COVID 19 Pandemic.

Coby Kriegshauzer, chief executive officer of Scott Seeds, a family company established by his grandfather, Ira Scott, in Hereford, Texas in 1946, has earlier invited the MinDA Chairman to witness the introduction of its new hybrid Sorghum seeds during the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the company. In response, MinDA proposed to Scott Seed the establishment of a seed production nursery in Mindanao to boost the Sorghum Development Program of the agency to support its livestock and poultry industry.

MinDA emphasized that a Seed Production Nursery established right next to the production area would greatly reduce the cost of the Sorghum Seeds which are now brought into the country from the US and other countries by seed distribution companies.

Kriegshauzer said his company would be interested to discuss the prospects of investing in a Seed Nursery in Mindanao adding that it could become the source of waxy Sorghum which China needs.

MinDA Sorghum Development Program was crafted in support of the Livestock and Poultry Industry Development initiatives of the agency to complement the corn produced in Mindanao for animal feeds.

An additional benefit from Sorghum is the production of green stalks even after harvest which would be used as silage for both large and small ruminants, especially in Cattle Fattening, another project being pushed by MinDA.

The availability of Sorghum Seeds for farmers in Mindanao could provide additional income opportunities from a new agricultural product needed by the poultry and livestock industry. August 14-20, 2021 | 35

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