Documentation of Postharvest practices in corn seed production of the Department of Agriculture-Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-CVIARC)

Date

5-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Agronomy

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Maria Fatima O. Mercado

Abstract

The farm practice was conducted at the Department of Agriculture - Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Institute (DA-CVIARC) in San Felipe, Ilagan, Isabela from April to May 2011. The general objective of the study was to document and analyze the postharvest practices in corn seed production and in line with these, problems in the area were identified and addressed by providing recommendations for improvement.

The Department of Agriculture - Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-CVIARC) formerly known as Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) which started in 1986 is run by the government directive programs which aim to produce and improve crops that are grown in the Philippines. The research center is primarily engaged in growing and developing different varieties in peanut, mungbean, soybean and corn. They study and develop varieties and share the technology to the farmers. There are three open pollinated varieties (OPV) of corn being studied and developed in the center : the glutinous, white flint, and yellow corn.

Postharvest practices begin after harvest and end when the produce is handed over to the consumers. Proper and efficient postharvest handling generates improved economic value to the crop aside from prolonging its shelf life. The postharvest practices in corn seed production were documented. These include dehusking ear drying, ear sorting, corn shelling, seed drying, seed sorting and seed cleaning.

The geographic location of DA-CVIARC is suitable for growing corn but the area is very prone to natural disasters like typhoon is greatly affected especially when infrastructures like storage rooms are damaged. This has a significant effect on seed storability. The center also relies mostly on traditional practices but also relies mostly on traditional practices but also efficient in acquiring new technologies. Some possible interference to address the problems are acquisition of machines instead of relying on manual operation that prolong the time the ears or the seeds are stacked unattended that making them susceptible to pests and other unfavourable environmental condition and reduce the time that the ears are piled unhusked. Optimum adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) is also one of the best resorts.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993 2012 A42 O74

Document Type

Thesis

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