DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur (PIA) -- A total of 217 farmers from all over the country participate in the three-day holding of the 16th National Rice Technology Forum at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Barangay Matti from September 19 - 21, 2023.

The 16th National Rice Technology Forum is in line President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s guidelines as secretary of Agriculture to address the food security in the country through the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, through the adoption of yield-boosting technologies by showcasing high yielding hybrid and inbred rice seed varieties, machinery and other evidenced-based practices in the demonstration-area.

Rice Board president Recher Ondap  said the activity is done twice a year to speed up the training and adoption of farmers to the hybrid technology.

He said they partner with the National Rice Program, Department of Agriculture XI, Agricultural Training Institute, local government units and the farmers, with the objective of a stable rice supply and increased productivity and income.

“Our objective is really for a faster adoption of technology by our rice farmers as they embrace the whole package of technology and show the impact of rice production to other farmers,” Ondap said.

He said they are also willing to support the farmers through farm mechanization, irrigation and credit.

“We also encourage farm clustering where we group the farmers by eight to 100 hectares per cluster, where we anchor on the National Irrigators’ Association, so that other than ourselves, the private organizations and local government units can provide assistance that will boost production by doubling the income using hybrid rice seeds following the technology protocol on a location and season basis,” Malabanan said, adding that the budget for MRIDP is P15 billion.

Malabanan cited the need to educate the farmers whatever rice technology they use. 

“The farmers are exposed to risk once they shift from one technology to another.  That is why the private and public sector plays a crucial role on the ground of showcasing the growth of the palay to them," he said.

He added "We show to the farmers the different rice varieties so that they can choose what variety to plant in the locality, according to season and location.”  (JSGD-Davao del Sur)