BUTUAN CITY -- Integrated rice-duck farming is a good ecological agricultural practice that the local government unit (LGU) of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur wanted to demonstrate to the farming community in their town. 

With this, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga Organic Agriculture Program and Del Monte Lowland Rainfed Research Station (DMLRRS) in partnership with the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry turned over 100 heads of Itik Pinas to LGU-Sibagat on February 16.

Regional Organic Agriculture Program focal person Cindy Burdeos together with DMLRRS Center chief Catherine Juyno handed the intervention to Sibagat Livestock Program focal person Ceriaco Corsiga Jr.

Itik Pinas strain is a genetically superior breeder duck that is a product of continuous selection and organized breeding of the traditional Pateros duck. A strain that is smaller in size with minimum amount of food consumption but with predictable higher egg production performance. The strain was developed by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). 

According to Chief Juyno, rice-duck technology eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides/herbicides as ducks perform the functions of pest management, weed management, and fertilization. 

“It is a farming system that can be adapted by the organic farmer practitioners,” she said.

Aside from establishing a rice-duck technology demonstration area, MAO-Sibagat is also committed to be a multiplier farm to increase the inventory of ducks within the municipality. (DA-RFO XIII, RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)