PALOMPON — As genetic engineering continues to yield commercial seed hybrids, the Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas (DA-RFO8) is turning its focus toward an ancestral crop that has naturally withstood environmental extremes: the native Kalimpos corn.
Recognizing the food security risks brought by worsening climate patterns, regional agricultural researchers are taking steps to preserve, propagate, and reintroduce this traditional white corn variety to local farmers across Leyte.
Validating Resilience In Merida And Palompon
Kalimpos is an open-pollinated variety (OPV) renowned for its natural resistance to drought and field pest infestations. To prevent the heirloom variety from being phased out by commercialized hybrids, the DA’s Abuyog Experiment Station (AES) established pilot nurseries in Merida and Palompon.
In Merida, a three-hectare pilot site involving 11 local corn growers served to test the variety's performance under actual field conditions. During the Farmers’ Field Day and Harvest Festival held in Barangay Lundag, Merida, from October 28 to 29, 2026, the crop demonstrated impressive productivity:
Fresh Grain Yield: Average of 3.0 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha)
Dry Grain Yield: Computed at 2.25 MT/ha
Shelling Recovery: Confirmed at approximately 80 percent
"The Kalimpos corn is not merely a legacy from our ancestors; it is a treasure for a more resilient future," said AES researcher Mona Liza Ruiz, noting that the variety offers high yield potential alongside climate adaptability.
Local Institutional Support And Seed Distribution
The initiative has gained strong backing from local government units. In Palompon, where Kalimpos corn planted in mid-June was harvested in early October, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) scheduled seed distribution to local growers for the first week of November to expand cultivation.
Concurrently, Merida Mayor Rolando Villasencio signed a municipal resolution encouraging the conservation and planting of traditional corn varieties, institutionalizing support for local genetic resources.
"This is a great project from the DA, as it will truly help our corn farmers," Mayor Villasencio stated. "The LGU is ready to support agricultural projects like this because these are for our farmers."
By pairing grassroots farming trials with municipal policy, DA-RFO8 aims to bolster local biodiversity while safeguarding smallholder farmers against climate vulnerabilities.
