A Poor Man’s Crop Becomes a Profitable Farming Enterprise

“GO HOME AND PLANT KAMOTE!” This is the usual expression for a student that failed, an athlete that did not perform well or a person losing the business. It implies that one is more productive in planting sweet potato (kamote). The term “kamote” or “nangamote” is being used when a student struggled or failed. I am not sure, why Filipinos use kamote to refer to someone as dumb or poor. Maybe because kamote has long been considered as a poor man’s crop and planting kamote or laboring on the soil for that matter was a lowly undertaking, and was only for simpletons and those with no higher goals.

Levi Sarona and other farmers in Canlaon City are proving otherwise, as planting sweet potato is a profitable business. Levi  Sarona from Nagalao, San Carlos City is 41 years old  with 2 children. He has farmed for  25  years and grown potato, onions, cabbage, and sweet potato, growing at least 3 hectares of sweet potato per cropping season. He prefers to focus on sweet potato cultivation because of its low production cost. There is a sure income regardless of fluctuating prices. Sweet potato can be stored, hence damage is low compared to other vegetables are highly perishable. He was able to buy a multicab, construct a house, and provide for his family needs  out of his income from sweet potato.

PSRTC has contributed to the increase of sweet potato production through the introduction of new and improved germplasm. The evaluation of sweet potato clones for socio-economic acceptability was a huge success as PSRTC together with the farmers from different locations were able to identify good sweet potato varieties that were highly accepted in the market.  From 17 varieties evaluated since 2016,  5 varieties ( Benia Zuma, Immitlog, Haponita, Benquita, NSIC SP 30,) were selected by farmers in 2018. In 2019, the selection was reduced to 3 (Immitlog, Haponita, and NSIC30). In the last quarter of 2019, more farmers are planting the clones, Immitlog and Haponita. These 2 varieties are mass multiplied and sold in Canlaon, Dumaguete and Bacolod markets. Remnants of some varieties are  still being grown by farmers.  Special thanks to Northern Philippine Root Crops and Training Center-Benquet State University for sharing this germplasm with PSRTC.

Levi, one of the farmer cooperators of PSRTC in the germplasm trials, was able to identify promising varieties. On June 26, 2018, he purchased 2 trays of mother plants each of the varieties Benia Zuma, Haponita, and Immitlog  . Additional 5 trays of NSIC 30 from the greenhouse and  2

sacks of cuttings from the field were purchased on August 4, 2018.  Each tray of mother plants cost Php200 while cuttings from the

field cost Php 200 per sack. He multiplied the different varieties in his field. Finally, he selected Immitlog and Haponita. He is also growing another clone he called “Miss Philippines” and other clones which he thinks could be a  cross from the different clones. This claim is not yet

validated.

Before he sold his sweet potato in Uptown through a Sales Agent. Since, August 2019, he goes with PSRTC’s marketing officer, Giovanni Nemenio to Dumaguete every Friday to sell his sweet potato directly to consumers. His income has significantly increased because he no longer pays 10% commission to Sales Agent for his products and he gets a much higher price in Dumaguete.

Levi’s experience shows how a high yielding variety of sweet potato can increase farm income and profits. Planting kamote is profitable. Likewise PSRTC has significantly helped farmers through evaluation of new varieties, provision of clean planting materials and assist in marketing of their products.