BAYBAY CITY, April 26 -- Officials are optimistic that the availability of production technologies will encourage more farmers in Eastern Visayas to plant root crops given their suitability to the region's soil and growing market demand.

Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) Director Edgardo Tulin, former president of Visayas State University (VSU), said Friday that he has seen the growth of root crops in the past 40 years as the school embarked on various research projects.

"Root crops play a major role in our industry, and they have become frontliners for research at VSU. The university has dedicated our efforts to elevating the root crop industry," Tulin said who was present during a two-day Root Crops Fa...