Umingan’s Soybean Trial Demo

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research through the Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC) in collaboration with the Local Government Unit of Umingan through its Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center  initiated a 1 ha. Techno-Demo on Organic Soybean Production.

Mr. Gil M. Infantado of Poblacion West, Umingan, Pangasinan is the first farmer to try organic soybean production in Umingan who allocated 1 hectare for the trial. He was awarded with 50 kgs. of soybean seeds last September 3, 2014 for this purpose.

Soybean is known for its high protein content not to mention the different medicinal properties.Soybean is included as one of the priority commodities under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).It is known as a good source of dietary fiber and it contains anti-cancer and anti-flammatory factors,it also contains components that aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, heart diseases, and diabetes. Among other beans (mungbean,peas, and beans, soybean has the highest protein content. In the Philippines, soybean production is only concentrated in Surigao del Sur and Negros Oriental,that is why a big portion of our soybean needs every year is being imported from other countries. Soybean also plays a vital role in the agricultural system. Just like mungbean, it is a nitrogen fixing plant

Aside from its numerous health benefits, soybean is also an important crop in an agricultural system because of its capability to fixate nitrogen that is present in the air. “The symbiotic relationship between the nitrogen-fixing bacteria [in the root nodules] and the host legume plant provide nitrogen to the agricultural system.

A hectare of organic soybean could fix 300 kilograms of nitrogen in the soil, and only 40 % will be utilized by the plant during its growth cycle. The remaining 60% will stay in the soil and can be utilized by the next crop planted in the field.

The Local Government of Umingan through its FITS Center is in full support in this endeavor. FITS Staff are now preparing  for activities to support the Organic Soybean Production in Umingan. Seminar on the health benefits derived from soybean, production, processing and marketing is in the making.