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STBF: A FAST-MOVING TECHNO-TRANSFER VEHICLE FOR ENHANCED PEANUT
PRODUCTIVITY IN JONES, ISABELA 1
Rose Mary G. Aquino, Florante Leano, Jr., Lanie Galla,
Roger Salvador, Vanessa Joy Fortin 2
ABSTRACT
The Science and Technology- Based Farm (STBF) Project aims to address the need to increase
peanut production and improve productivity in Jones, Isabela. The project started through the conduct of
reconnaissance survey wherein farming situation and practices of the selected Magsasaka-Siyentista (MS)
were gathered as reference in identifying best technology options (increase seeding rate and wider spacing
of new varieties, seed inoculation, basal fertilization and gypsum side-dressing) for demonstration in the
STBF. Important technology-showcasing events like conduct of field days/harvest festival, provision of
trainings and IEC materials were also done to ensure technology transfer and adoption.
Results of the STBF in three (3) crop-cycles (2 wet season and 1 dry season trial) revealed significant
increase on peanut yield and income. Obtained data during the 1st cycle 2007 wet season resulted to
pod yield of 2,825 kgs/ha (using Asha variety) and 2,750 kgs/ha (Namnama-1 or NSIC Pn 11 variety) as
compared to MS traditionally-managed farm yield of only 1,680 kgs/ha. Significant results were noted during
the 2nd cycle (2008 dry season) and 3rd crop-cycle (2008 wet season) because obtained pod yield reached
almost 3,240 kgs/ha using Asha variety.
The eventual adoption of science-based technology interventions had tremendously improved
peanut income as shown in the partial budget analysis. Average added cost (across crop-cycles) of Php
7,084/ha due to adoption of S&T interventions gave an average added return of Php 20,903/ha. Convincing
results during the field day were presented with the 30 farmer-students of Barangay Arubub and are now
adopting the technology interventions. About 172 corn farmers in other Barangays are participating in peanut
production.
Keywords: Peanut, STBF
Peanut is primarily grown as cash crop
in corn-based areas with distinct wet and dry
seasons. It is usually planted mostly during dry
season as rotation crop after corn. With the
advent of high yielding hybrid varieties of corn
and the favorable market, farmers shifted into
corn–corn production cropping pattern. This
is the reason why drastic reduction on peanut
production in Cagayan Valley particularly in
Isabela province was experienced in the early
90s that resulted to massive and substantial
increase of importation since 1997 (BAS, 1978-
1998).
Similarly, farmers seldom keep a
portion of their harvest for planting in the next
cropping due to rapid seed deterioration with
the absence of conducive storage facility
(peanut seeds viability is lost in less than 6
months under ordinary storage).
On the other hand, average net income
from peanut production is still low, at pod yield
level of 1.2 – 1.8 tons/ha (assuming sold at
P18.00 – P20.00/kg), the average net income
is only P7, 690.00. Low yield and high cost
of production attributed to use of low-yielding
varieties, poor soil and pests management,
drought, flash floods (that usually occur at
seedling – vegetative stage under river flood
1
1st Place, Best Paper-Development Category, 21st CVARRD RSRDEH Symposium
2
STBF Local Project Team, Techno Gabay Program
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