Demonstrating impactful and transformative research results, a Technology Demonstration Farm for Off-Season Tomato Varieties during Wet Season situated at the MMSU Experimental Farm located at the back of the University Library was opened to interested tomato farmers in a field visit this October 7, 2022.

Some 105 interested tomato growers, farmer leaders, and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) from the Cities of Batac and Laoag, and municipalities of Paoay, Solsona, Currimao, Burgos, Banna, Sarrat, Marcos, Badoc, Sarrat, San Nicolas, and Bacarra visited the 2,000 m² demonstration farm highlighting MMSU’s hybrid tomato varieties and collections sprayed with Bio-In 3, a botanical pesticide that targets tomato fruit worm.

“Our technology demonstration farm is our vantage point of the technologies we have developed in MMSU, in the hope of bringing high impact and transformative extension program to our communities”, Dr. Marilou Lucas, the Director for Extension, emphasized during the forum that followed at the Conference Hall of the Center for Flexible Learning. The forum discussed the improved production practices and technologies used in the demonstration farm.

Two (2) hybrid tomato varieties, the MMSU Hybrid 1 (NSIC Tm10) and MMSU Hybrid 3 (NSIC Tm11), were showcased in the demo farm. MMSU Hybrid 1, registered as NSIC Tm10, is a promising tomato variety that matures at 62 days with an average vine length of 137 cm at maturity. It can produce an average yield of 33.95 tons per hectare (t/ha) during the dry season (DS) and 27.72 t/ha during the wet season (WS). MMSU Hybrid 3, on the other hand, matures in 62 days with an average vine length of 148 cm at maturity. This variety can produce an average fruit yield of 45.8 t/ha during the dry season and 28.33 t/ha during the wet season. Other off-season tomato varieties in the demonstration farm are Tm 1, Tm 2, Tm 3, Tm 5.1, and Tm 7.2.

Mr. Jilves Jimenez, the project leader of the demonstration farm said the area was sprayed with the Bio-In 3 and synthetic insecticides ‘to demonstrate comparable effectiveness of the botanical pesticide in controlling tomato fruit worms. Bio-In 3 was made from extracts of local botanicals such as C. viscose (tantandok), A. Mexicana (katsumba), E. hirta (maragatas), and T. pandacaqui (busbusilak). This, along with other biopesticides and bio-insecticides, was developed by researchers, Ms. Leticia Lutap, Ms. Alecsis, Villarin, and Dr. Aida Solsoloy.

Apart from this, Mr. Jimenez emphasized that the demo farm highlights the performance of the tomato varieties during the wet season, as tomato is usually planted during the dry season. Trellising was also used as one of the best practices in the demo farm to provide protection for the fruits against rotting and damage by rats during the wet season.

“We envision agripreneurs to rise in our province upon adopting these technologies”, MMSU President Shirley Agrupis, shared in her message during the Forum. “We envision village-scale adoption of our technologies, so we can truly showcase technopreneurship from production to marketing”, President Agrupis emphasized., encouraging the participants to adopt, adapt, and upscale these technologies developed by the University.

The Ilocos Region is the top producer of tomatoes in the country. In the quarterly report of the Philippine State major vegetables for the Quarter 2 April – June, the Ilocos Region is the leading tomato producer, sharing some 34.1 percent of the country’s total tomato output.

To ensure that such produce is utilized as fresh and processed products, President Agrupis bragged about the technologies of the Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC) such as the ToMango Juice, ToMango Ketchup, Pinakbet Paste, among others, with big impact through technology incubation and management.

“With these technologies, let us bring the products of our province in the national and international market”, she urged.

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