CABANATUAN CITY – A global seed producing firm aims to penetrate Nueva Ecija with a vow to make vegetable farming a profitable endeavor with the introduction of hybrid seeds and a multi-sectoral partnership.
“It’s like partnering with everyone, partnering with farmer, partnering with land owner, helping each other,” said Seraj Ahmad, Business Lead-Philippines of Advanta, saying the launch of the company in Nueva Ecija last April 18 was in line with their mission of uplifting the farmers’ plight.
The line of various vegetable seeds, bannered by sweet and young corns variety, included tomato, pepper, okra, cucumber, patola (luffa), among others.
“We are partnering with Filipino farmers to increase their income by providing high quality vegetable seeds in terms of yield and fruits per plant, more numbers of fruiting, picking, pest and disease tolerances, weather adoptive,” an Advanta presser said.
Sherwin Bagay, Advanta techno commercial manager, said each product underwent a long period of test: “Bago namin ini-launch ang aming mga produkto, na-test na namin ito for about two to three years sa ating mga testimonial farmers at saka meron tayong itinatag na Advanta innovation center located sa Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.”
“Sakop na sakop siya ‘dun sa ating temperatura,” he noted, adding that their seeds were readied for climate change or its effects such as prolonged drought or “kung hindi man drought ay stress sa halaman so makakaasa tayo, yung mga farmers na kung bumaba man ang presyo, ay malaki pa rin ang kita dahil sa malaking ani pa rin.”
They were also adaptive to the traditional method of farming. “Walang babaguhin sa kanilang practice, sa kanilang kinasanayan,” he said.
