By Kimberly S. Miguel, StratCom correspondent

To showcase adaptability in the Philippine climate, hybrid corn varieties developed by the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China were planted at the President’s Farm of Mariano Marcos State University main campus yesterday, December 15.

Organized by the MMSU Extension Directorate (ED), the planting of four Ludan corn varieties at the demonstration farm site was led by Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, MMSU vice president for research and extension, and Consul Ren Faqiang, head of post of the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Laoag City.

Other MMSU officials who joined the ceremonial planting were Dr. Dionisio Bucao, the university’s director of science and technology park; Dr. Bjorn Santos, research director; Dr. Sosima Demandante, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development; and Ms. Bella Gervacio, chief of ED's training and continuing education section. They were joined by other faculty and students of the college. 

A modified double row planting technology developed by MMSU research directorate and an increased fertilizer recommended rate are incorporated in growing the Ludan 1, 2, 3, and 4 corn varieties.

The president’s farm is demonstrating three planting distances: 75xcm x 20cm, which is the conventional farmer’s practice in the province; 60cm x 24 cm, which is the conventional planting distance in China; and 80:30cm x 20cm for the modified double row planting technology with a fertilizer rate of 200-100-100 kg nutrients per hectare.

Consul Ren expressed delight with the activity, saying the same is being undertaken in Shandong, China to imbibe the value of “food for health and nutrition.” He also thanked MMSU “for a partnership that involves the youth, who serves as the country's hope for the future.”

For his part, Dr. Alibuyog hopes for a positive outcome so farmers in the province may have new corn varieties to adopt.

The project is one of the fruits of the partnership between the two universities. In 2021, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and Shandong Academy President Wan Shubo signed a memorandum of understanding to implement agricultural science and technology programs.

Corn is one of the priority commodities being cultivated by the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium based in MMSU. For years now, various technologies have been generated to sustain corn production in the province for food and feed formulation, including support to the Ilocos chichacorn industry using the MMSU Glutinous Corn 1 variety.

Since its establishment in 2017, the president’s farm has been a haven of innovation and research breakthroughs in rice production. This is a collaborative project of MMSU - ED and the Philippine Rice Research Institute - Batac station. – with a report from Joann O. Allas, intern (JVBT/DPTJ, StratCom)