MERIDA, LEYTE — Demonstrating remarkable resistance against severe weather swings, the native Kalimpos corn variety has delivered a successful yield for local cooperator Artemio Sagaldia during the Farmers Field Day and Harvest Festival held in Barangay Lundag, Merida.
Sagaldia, who has farmed in Leyte for 52 years, shared his testimony during the field demonstration, marking his first time receiving specialized agricultural seed assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Overcoming Extreme Weather Swings
Testing the Kalimpos seeds provided by the DA across his two-hectare farm, Sagaldia initially held doubts about the crop's survival due to erratic weather conditions at the start of the planting season.
The trial crop endured three distinct environmental stressors:
Heat Exposure: High temperatures during the initial germination phase.
Heavy Rainfall: Continuous downpours during crop development.
Pest Infestation: Early-stage insect and pest pressure.
Despite these challenges, the Kalimpos variety produced a bountiful harvest, proving its capacity to withstand shifting regional climate conditions.
A Testimonial To Traditional Seed Resilience
“52 years na ko nga mag-uuma pero karon pa ko nakadawat og ing-ani nga hinabang sa gobyerno. Gitanoman nako og Kalimpos ang ako duha ka ektarya nga yuta kay ako gitestingan kining binhi gikan sa DA,” Sagaldia stated. “Abi nakog dili mabuhi kay sa pagsugod nako og tanom giinit, gi-uwan, unya gi-peste pud. Kalooy sa Ginoo, nakaharvest man ko og daghan. Kining Kalimpos corn musukol jud ni sa panahon kay nakapamuso jud pag maayo.”
“I have been a farmer for 52 years, but this is the first time I have ever received this kind of assistance from the government. I planted 'Kalimpos' on my two-hectare farm to test this seed variety provided by the DA. At first, I didn't think the crop would survive; when I started planting, it faced intense heat, heavy rain, and even pest infestation. By the grace of God, I still managed to have a bountiful harvest. This 'Kalimpos' corn variety is truly resilient against the climate it yielded very well.”
Supporting Regional Food Security
The success of the Kalimpos field trial in Barangay Lundag aligns with ongoing government initiatives across Eastern Visayas to evaluate and promote high-performing crop varieties capable of withstanding climate disruption.
By empowering local farmer-cooperators like Sagaldia, agricultural authorities continue to strengthen smallholder productivity, reinforce food security, and expand access to resilient crop technologies throughout Leyte.
