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Sorsogon eyes commercialization of Asha peanut
by Miko Jazmine J. Mojica

The Bicol Region may soon be known not only for its famous pili nut but for being an active producer of "Asha" peanut in the Philippines.

The Research Outreach Station (ROS) in Sorsogon, under the supervision of the Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center (BIARC), is now evaluating the performance of Asha peanut (CV Pn-1) in the hope of promoting the commercialization of the technology to farmers in the province.

Asha peanuts, which are almost double the size of the local variety, were introduced in the Philippines last year and were initially pilot-grown in Cagayan and Isabela for possible commercial production.

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), has supported this effort jointly with the India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), which introduced Asha peanut in the country.

Initial tests indicated that the Asha peanut variety is commercially viable in the Philippines. Asha (2.96 t ha-1) gave 41-77 percent higher pod yield than farmers' varieties (UPL Pn 10, Namnama and BPI Pn 9) in the Cagayan Valley region in the wet season of 2005.

The performance evaluation and promotion of Asha peanut variety under Sorsogon condition is being funded by BAR through its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP).