The town of Enrile, Cagayan held its Peanut Harvest Fiesta recently.
With the theme, “Convergence of Technologies and Support Institutions for Sustainable Peanut Industry Amidst Climate Change,” the event was attended by representatives from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), Department of Agriculture (DA), local farmers, and staff and researchers from state colleges and universities.
The highlight of the event is the declaration of Enrile as the “Peanut Capital of the Philippines.”
Enrile is home to 800 peanut farmers cultivating 700 hectares of farmlands and with a potential expansion area of another 800 hectares. It contributes the highest production share of 1,800 metric tons of peanut per year contributing 8–10% of the national supply. Enrile is known for its suitable sandy to sandy-loam soil, and its unique ability to produce peanut year-round.
DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness Leandro Gazmin, representing DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, lauded the Enrile farmers for their collective effort in making peanut production successful in the municipality. He requested the farmers to commit themselves in further improving and developing not just the peanut industry but the entire agricultural sector in Enrile.
The DA Regional Field Office 02 (DA-RFO 02) headed by its Regional Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, on the other hand, turned over to the LGU-Enrile over P4- million worth of farm machines and equipment four-wheel drive tractor and four units of mill for corn grits, 10 heads of carabao, 2,500 kilograms of peanut seeds for planting, and 300 bags of open-pollinated corn variety.
Representing DOST-PCAARRD were Acting Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, Crops Research Division director, underscored the many projects being supported by the Council to attain enhanced productivity and sustainable local supply of peanut. She also mentioned DOST-PCAARRD’s past efforts in the implementation of the “Peanut Seed Security Support Program in Region II” and the successful S&T-based farm (STBF) projects in Echague, Enrile, and Jones in Isabela, in partnership with DA, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the LGUs.
In her message, Dr. Eusebio highlighted that the convergence and adoption of the various S&T-based technologies are reflected in the DOST-PCAARRD Industry Strategic S&T Plan (ISP) for Peanut. The said plan is a strategic R&D initiative which serves as a framework for all stakeholders involved in the peanut industry’s value chain.
The “Enrile Peanut Harvest Fiesta” is part of the 4-day activity of DA titled “Agri-Pinoy MEGA FIESTA sa Rehiyon Dos” organized by the DA-RFO 02 and the DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center (DA-CVRC).
On March 18, a planning workshop was held at DA-CVRC, Ilagan City to address the research gaps in the technology chains of the Peanut Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP). Research proponents from SUCs and DA, as well as PCAARRD representatives participated in the said activity.
DOST-PCAARRD shows keen interest in the attainment of a sustainable peanut industry amidst climate change in keeping with its commitment under DOST’s Outcome One: to provide science-based know-how and tools that will enable the agricultural sector to raise productivity to world-class standards.