Siquijor goes nuts on peanuts, pigeon pea production 

by Rizalie Anding Calibo 

SIQUIJOR, Oct 13 (PIA) -- Siquijor boasts of its crunchy fried peanuts as the province extensively promotes this commodity as one of its income generating venture for the marginal farmers in the Island. 

The Bureau of Agricultural Research of the Department of Agriculture (DA-BAR) has poured in massive technical support in the local production, processing and commercialization of legumes like peanut and pigeon pea in the province. 

DA-BAR director Nicomedez Eleazar in his message during the 'Grand Peanut and Pigeon Pea Field Day' and Technology Forum earlier admitted that Region 7, of which Siquijor province is part of, has big potentials in agricultural and fisheries production. 

“Malaki rin ang contribution nyo sa pag-develop ng sector na ito,” he said citing that agricultural and fisheries remain first in economic contribution and job creation especially in the provinces. 

Eleazar said peanut is one of the commodities in the province that the agency has been supporting for a number of years in terms of Research and Development and Extension (RDE) through the Community-Based Participatory Action Research Program (CPAR) of the department. 

“We are promoting diversified farming and intercropping to help farmers get bigger income,” he said adding that part of the CPAR program is teaching farmers the right technology, good agricultural practices and even providing training on basic farm management like bookkeeping. 

Among the BAR’s projects in the province are the CPAR on intercrop of corn, cassava and peanut, Eleazar said. 

“Ngayon po ay lalong naging tama sa panahon at nabagay sa Region 7 lalo na sa Siquijor ang pagpo-promote namin sa local production, processing and commercialization of legumes tulad ng peanut at pigeon pea or kadyos,” he also cited peanut as one of the most nutritious and favorite food and snacks of the Filipinos. 

He said that big opportunities await farmers as 50% of the country’s local requirement of peanut is imported from other countries like China, reaching a yearly import of 30,000 to 50,000 tons. 

Some of the biggest peanut processors in Manila also need more than 300 metric tons monthly in shelled form at P50 to P60 pesos per kilo and unshelled form at a farmgate price of P25 to P28 per kilo, he added. 

He said the national review by legumes expert conducted three months ago has found out the good performance of peanut production in provinces so that their office is recommending on-farm trials and farmer’s field day in regions in partnership with the local government units particularly in the province of Siquijor. 

We hope that our program brings good results and impact in Siquijor, from the farmers, the peanut processors, to the families that would benefit from the province’s peanut industry, he said. 

Peanut is one of the high value crops that actually ensure local small farmers additional and instant cash income during harvest, the peanut industry profile of Siquijor said. 

Currently, the Provincial Government is pursuing the industry in support to the province’s tourism industry. 

In one of the S & T-based Farm Field Day on Peanut Production in Tagmanocan, Lazi, Siquijor, Gov. Fua, while lauding the national government agencies' package of support and intervention to Siquijor farmers, has urged them to seek for more that would "revolutionalize the peanut industry in Siquijor province." 

Indeed, the governor’s call did not fall on deaf ears as interventions keep coming. 

“Sa katunayan, na-irekomenda na po naming at umaasa kami na maisasama na rin ang peanut bilang isa sa mga prioprity crops ng DA sa kanilang High Value Crop Development Program o HVCDP. Maganda pong balita ito dahil makatulong po ito para mapabilis pa at mapalaki ang suporta at prioridad na ibibigay sa production, processing at maging sa marketing ng peanut,” Eleazar said. 

“Makaaasa rin po kayo sa Bureau of Agricultural Research na patuloy naming suportahan at sisikapin na pagbutihin pa ang aming mga programa, proyekto at serbisyo pagdating sa research, development and extension sa agriculture and fisheries para sa ikaunlad ng ating bansa,” he said. (PIA-Siquijor/RACalibo)