BY MARIA ELENA CATAJAN

TABUK, Kalinga. — In this town, bananas may soon become disease free.

Research from the Kalinga-Apayao State College (KASC) recently made a major breakthrough in agricultural research with its tissue cultured lakatan plantlets.

Marciano Paroy Jr., KASC DevCom instructor, said the Tissue Culture Laboratory of the Research Extension Department went through a research package to improve banana suckers aimed to produce disease-resistant plantlets.

Dr. Hazel Buslig, KASC Tissue culture expert, led a team of researchers who made the literature of science research into reality by culturing banana for adoption of farmers in the province.

Lakatan cultured tissue was found to suit the climate. A demo farm has since been established at the KASC compound.

Mass propagation is now being carried out and the initial plantlets produced are ready for dispersal at P25 per piece, Paroy said.

Ferdinand Ganotice, KASC Research Coordinator, said research personnel are ready to extend technical assistance to farmers who avail of their plantlets in terms of proper handling, time, distance and method of planting.

The lakatan variety is highly in demand in the market for its quality and superior taste.

KASC management is encouraging farmers to visit the demo farm and prove for themselves why agriculture technicians are introducing the lakatan variety as possible replacement of the traditional bananas raised in the locality.