CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA ) — The Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 beefed up ways to improve food security and increase farmer income through intercropping.
Jemseal Tigbao of DA-10 said during the Usapang Agrikultura broadcast at DXIM Radyo Pilipinas Cagayan de Oro that intercropping involves growing two or more crops close together for sustainable agriculture. Soybeans and corn are chosen for their complementary growing patterns and nutritional value.
“After harvest sa atong mais nga wala pa’y sagbot, mao nana ang insaktong timing nga mutanom sa soybean aron ma-reduce ug mubaba. Ug maghisgot kita sa pagpreparar sa yuta nga tamnan nato sa soybean,” he added.
(After harvesting our corn, when there are no weeds yet, that is the right time to plant soybeans to reduce costs. We should also discuss preparing the soil where we will plant the soybeans.)
He mentioned that in intercropping systems, the ideal distance should be approximately 80 to 90 or 90 to 100 centimeters. Most farmers also follow this traditional practice. Furthermore, DA-10 is asking farmers interested in intercropping to provide corn and soybean seedlings.
“Mao ni atong ginapaningkamotan nga ma-under sa corn program. Naa ta’y budget na seed production aron maka-cater ta og walk-in clients og mga farmers nga gusto mu-engage sa soybean production at the same time,” Tigbao said.
(We aim to incorporate soybean production into the corn program to accommodate walk-in clients and farmers interested in both corn and soybean production simultaneously.)
The DA-10 initiative is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable agricultural practices in the region, ensuring that farmers can maintain productivity while preserving the environment. Tigbao said that by integrating soybeans and corn, the program aims to create a more resilient agricultural system that can withstand the challenges of climate change and market fluctuations. (PJSF/PIA-10)
