TANUMAN NI JUAN (Bulan Plantation): CASSAVA AND SWEET POTATO (Brgy. Inararan, Bulan)

DID YOU KNOW?

1. CASSAVA FACTS

Considered a vegetable and staple food specially during lean months and typhoon months. Cassava and sweet potato are the root crops commonly grown in Bicol. These commodities have special agronomic characteristics and performance that it is potential cannot be undermined.
Cassava is a perennial plant that thrives well even in poor soils. Its edible parts - leaves and tuberous roots - provide vitamins and protein. It is also comparable to potatoes, except that it has twice the fiber content and a higher level of potassium.
Cassava can be processed into starch, noodles, seasoning and sweets. It is also used as a substitute in the processing of animal food. It can also be made into pellets, chips and pearl. The chips can be used for alcohol production.
Cassava is now used to produce biodegradable plastics and some medical, horticultural and sporting good products.

2. SWEET POTATO FACTS

Sweet potato, locally known as camote, is usually eaten boiled or baked, and may be candied with syrup or processed into puree. It is a source of starch, glucose, syrup and alcohol and now used as a major ingredient for feeds. Its tops and leaves are utilized as a pot-herb and the vines as fodder for livestock.

Sweet potato plays an essential role in the tropics as a food security crop because of its (1) relative tolerance to water stress, (2) dual utilization, either for human consumption or animal feed, (3) high nutritional value, i.e., high content of carbohydrates, protein, minerals, and vitamins, (4) relatively short growing season, and (5) adaptation to a wide range of environmental conditions.

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There are lots of root crops plantation here in Bicol Region such in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate. Bulan is one town in Sorsogon Province, which is abundant in production of root crops. Nearly, most of the local barangay’s residents or farmers here are engaged in this kind of farming. Mang Pancho is one of them. He is cultivating an approximately 0.4 hectares of land as a tenant in farming Cassava and Sweet Potato because most the land are coconut plantation that’s why the land is not so good in planting these root crops.

Based from other farmers, it is better to cultivate Cassava and Sweet Potato in a slope-type of land. Because when it rains, water will just pass through it and will stay on it. Too much water can destroy the growth of the plant and reduce its productivity of crops. On Mang Pancho’s condition, his land is a flat surface that is why when there is a continues heavy rain, his crops are often destroyed and will decrease the production of the crops.

For every harvest, Mang Pancho generates 10,000php (plus) for Sweet Potato and 3,500php (plus) for Cassava. When there are much supply of Cassava and Sweet Potato at the market, the price decreases and there comes a times that the crops are hard to sell.

The selling of Sweet Potato is 180php per pail while Cassava is 100php per pail. But in some farmers, the selling of Cassava and Sweet Potato are sold per kilograms which give additional generation of income to the farmers.

Cassava can be yield twice per year or for every six to seven months from planting the crop to harvest. Sweet Potato can be yield thrice per year or for every three to four months from planting the crop to harvest. Based from what Mang Pancho said, the Sweet Potato that he have planted was a new breed came from Antipolo Rizal which can be harvested from a few months time because the old breed can be harvested after five to six months. The larger the area you cultivate, the higher the income you’ll get.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE PRODUCTION OF ROOT CROPS

Damages caused by weevil and scrab diseases
Rats (Dagang Bukid) that ate the crops
Lower yield due to heavy rains
Climate change which cause large count of typhoons and imbalance weather condition
Low price selling point of the crops
Condition and location of planting the crops

FARMER’S BACKGROUND

Most of the people here in the local areas prefer to do farming. Farming is one of the works that needs most of your effort and energy for you to have a good production of crop. The more hard work you give, the more crops you can get. Farming does not require a person to be intellectually knowledgeable in doing the work because experience and patience is what matters most.

Mr. Pancho Gernale Gelua is a 64 years old farmer. He has three children, 1 son and 2 daughters to her second wife. The first child is 22 y/o and he is married, the second child is 19 y/o and she is a third year college student and the last is 15 y/o and she is a third year high school student. They’re currently residing at Brgy. Inararan boundary of Brgy. Calomagon, Bulan, Sorsogon.

In ten years time farming of Mang Pancho, it is been a big help to them. He sends his children to school for the betterment of their living ‘cause he believe that when child go to school they have the possibility to have a better future and not just wired on farming. The family are helping in hand in farming the land. they don’t just plant rootcrops, they even plant rice and other types of vegetables. Mang Pancho said, “Farming is my life and I am happy doing it.”

Some Photos Taken during the Interview: