KABAYAN, Benguet – The community of Kabayan, Benguet has signed the Certificate of Validation for the research project titled, “Collection, Conservation, and Characterization of Traditional Corn Germplasm in Benguet, Mountain Province, and Abra”, signifying their satisfaction with the content, scope, and presentation of the documented information and knowledge.
The Certificate of Validation was signed after the validation of the project’s research results with the community by the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RFO CAR) in collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Office of Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg)-Kabayan in Poblacion, Kabayan, Benguet on August 15, 2024.
The community validation was conducted to ensure that the research findings accurately represent the community’s knowledge, farming practices, and perspectives before the finalization of the write-up.
During the validation activity, the participants also ranked their preferred corn characteristics. The top characteristics were insect and disease resistance, high yield, white kernel color, early maturity (less than 90 days), short plant height, and producing two to three ears per plant. These preferences will guide breeding activities to improve the traditional corn’s resilience and productivity while maintaining its distinct qualities.
In his opening remarks, Municipal Agriculturist Geoffrey Binaliw highlighted the importance of traditional corn as an important commodity in the municipality and reiterated the continuous support of the local government unit (LGU) and OMAg for the project. “This initiative is crucial for our agricultural development,” added Hon. Lusiano Alos, Barangay Captain of Anchukey.
Mr. Nicasio S. Baucas, Research Division Chief, also emphasized the importance of the current research initiatives focused on conserving traditional corn. He highlighted the health benefits of traditional corn, particularly its lower glycemic index compared to rice, and gave an overview of the processes for collecting and conserving seed samples.
The activity was participated by the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, community elders, and barangay officials of Barangay Duacan, Gusaran, Pacso, Bashoy, Kabayan Barrio, Adaoay, Anchukey, and Poblacion.
Meanwhile, the research team has collected 91 traditional corn samples from Kabayan, of which 84 samples are being conserved at the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) Center, Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC) Compound in Dontogan, Baguio City, while the seven samples encountered issues such as weevil infestations and germination failures.
Of the 91 traditional corn samples, 49 were subjected to seed increase and characterization where qualitative and quantitative traits are documented. This evaluation provides valuable insights into the region’s unique qualities and variations of traditional corn. By Sarah P. Balloyan
