by: Christine Sanchez

Panigang Best F1 is a very prolific hybrid pepper variety that produces slightly pungent with glossy light green fruits.  Ivana F1, ABC’s latest hybrid butternut variety has thick and attractive orange flesh color with uniform rib pattern and good eating quality. Verdana is another prolific variety that is early maturing and high yielding with excellent shelf life while Aura F1 is a very prolific ridged patola variety, producing 13-15 fruits on average with broad shoulder and shallow ridges.

Present during the event were Municipal Vice Mayor Bien Roxas, Ms. Elma Mananes (Chief of the Field Operations Division), Engr. AB P. David (Regional HVCDP/NUPAP Focal Person), Dr. Eduardo Lapuz Jr. (Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension), Dr. Herminigilda Gabertan (Assistant Director of the Bureau of Plant and Industry), Mr. George Payumo (Municipal Agricultural Officer of Paniqui), and Mr. Pacifico D. Marcoleta Jr. (Cooperator). This initiative is under the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program and the High Value Crops Development Program.

In her message to farmers, Engr. David expressed her gratitude towards the farmers who worked hard to ensure the success of the harvest season undeterred by two back-to-back typhoons, Egay and Falcon. She emphasized the importance of the farmers’ critical role in sustaining the nation’s food supply while also contributing to the country’s economic growth. Seed companies were also acknowledged for continuously innovating ways to make farming modern and sustainable.

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