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Sunday, January 22, 2017
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ILOILO City – An important crop in Western Visayas, cassava is being used as food, feeds and fuel. It is also used in the manufacture of other industrial products.
In 2013, Region 6 produced 62,560 metric tons (mt) with total area planted reaching 6,726 hectares (ha) and yielding an average of 9.30 mt per hectare.
However, the trend is decreasing in the past four years, with total production of 59,621 mt, total area planted of 6,432 hectares and average yield of 9.27mt/ha for 2015, based on the latest Philippine Statistics Authority available data.
With the conduct of a four-day intensive training (regional capacity building on summary protocol and early warning on cassava arthropod pest and diseases), focal persons were optimistic to achieve the 2017 target production of 72,696 mt, total area planted of 7,370 hectares and average yield of 9.86mt/ha.
At present, a total of 218,000 Filipino farmers are planting cassava, with 11,000 farmers coming from Western Visayas. And the number is increasing.
In 2015, Region 6 ranked ninth for production and average yield and eighth for the total area harvested among the 18 regions.
There are 48 varieties of cassava registered in the National Seed Industry Council for commercial purposes.
Upland areas which have friable soils and can be easily drained are very much suited for cassava production.
All Western Visayas research outreach stations (ROS) situated in five provinces mass-produce cassava seed pieces for distribution to interested farmers, schools, LGUs and cooperatives.
Cassava as an excellent source of starch can also be used to supplement rice in the diet because of its food energy value of 141 calories/100g edible portion.
The cassava flour can also substitute for wheat flour in bread making up to 15 percent by weight and dried cassava can be used to replace corn in livestock and poultry rations.
It is identified as a strategic material in the production of alcohol and bio-ethanol, plywood, glue, sweetener, medicine, textile and biodegradable products.
Western Visayas has vast marginal land for cassava expansion and it is a climate-resilient crop capable of intercropped with corn and legumes.
Institutional buyers such as feed mills and feed processors which have bulk demand for feed ingredients are present within the region.
The propagation of quality planting materials and making it available to all interested farmers, schools, local government units and cooperatives will increase production areas.
The provision of production and post-harvest equipment will lessen production cost and ensure quality produce.
Research and extension activities like training, reading materials, techno-demos and briefings among cassava stakeholders will enhance technology transfer and adoption. (James Earl E. Ogatis, DA-6/PN)
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