MINDANAO NEWS

YOUNG TALAANDIG TRIBE FARMER IS MINDANAO CARROT KING 2020

A young farmer who belongs to the Talaandig Tribe of Northern Bukidnon is the Mindanao Carrot King 2020 for posting the best quality Carrots and producing 20.5-metric tons from a one-hectare farm after 3 months valued at P1.1-M at current prices. Ryan Danio, an Agronomy graduate from the Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon, was one of the two members of the Indigenous Peoples’ Community who romped off with the major prizes in the recently concluded Mindanao Vegetable Derby organized by the Mindanao Development Authority. Danio, whose father is a Talaandig tribal leader in Miarayon, is also the president of the Miarayon Highland Farmers Association which was engaged by the Department of Agriculture as early as 2017 in many of its activities. In 2019, Danio participated in the Potato Development Program of the DA in partnership with the Universal Robina Corporation which donated planting materials of potato from Canada. After a season-long trial in his farm, Danio posted the highest harvest of potato in the Philippines recorded at 50-metric tons which had a market value of P2.5-million. The other winners were Igorot womanfarmer Beatriz Homonlay of Sumilao, who was crowned Mindanao Cabbage Queen, and Rey Resullar of Impasug-ong who won the Mindanao Ombok King Title. A farmer from Lantapan, Raul Jamito, was honored as the outstanding farmer for the Champion Crops for consistently producing

quality Carrots, Cabbage and Chinese Cabbage. The season-long activity, which started in July this year and ended with the 3-day Vegetable Festival on Saturday, aimed to introduce new farming technologies, good seeds and market linkage to the high value crop farmers in the four vegetable growing towns of Bukidnon - Impasug-ong, Talakag, Sumilao and Lantapan or IMTASULA Complex. Seed companies participated in the activity and partnered with local farmers in establishing demonstration farms supervised by technicians provided by the companies. At the end of the season, the farmers’ produce were evaluated to determine which seeds grow well in specific locations and what farming practices were adaptable to the area to produce quality vegetables. The Mindanao Vegetable Derby was supported by Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri and the mayors of the towns of Talakag, Impasug-ong, Sumilao and Lantapan, the Department of Agriculture, private seed and vegetable companies and non-government organizations. The 2nd Mindanao Vegetable Derby will again be held at the same time next year.