CATAINGAN, Masbate- Farmers of this province were presented with new options on farming technologies during the recently concluded OnFarm Research organized by the Department of Agriculture - Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-BIARC), together with Pioneer HiBred Philippines, and the local government of the municipality.

The main objective of this government project is to compare the yield performance of Pioneer's new 30w30 white hybrid corn variety with the current open-pollinated varieties of (OPVs) or native corn, which is traditionally being planted by corn farmers of the province.

Upon harvesting all crops in the field demonstration, Pioneer 30W30 obtained an average yield of 6.7 metric tons per hectare (as compared to the OPV, which recorded only 3.9 metric tons per hectare.

The 30W30 variety, distinguished bi its flint snow white grains and thick husk cover, is known to have very good drought tolerance and resistance to leaf rust and ear rot based on previous trails conducted by agronomy and research personnel. Aside from its good eating quality, the corn crop matures at 105-108 days and has a high milling and grit recovery rate.

Jet Parma, Pioneer business manager, praised the agriculture department's regional office and the government for its commitment to technology-based agricultural productivity for the Filipino farmer.

Pioneer has been exerting much effort to present new options to our farmers, one of which is the actual field demonstration of hybrid corn and traditional varieties to compare yield difference," said Parma. "When farmers see for themselves the performance of both varieties, they would be in a better position of choosing which available farming technologies can potentially provide them with a higher income."

Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines, a wholly owned subsidiary of lowa-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.- a DuPont company-is the country's leading producer and distributor of high-quality hybrid seed corn.