MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)—The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) recently started the first leg of the harvest festival for the cluster Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration in South Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon.
DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said this cluster hybrid rice techno demo showcases different hybrid rice varieties, with the goal of identifying the most suitable variety in the locality and determining its cost-benefit ratio.
In Maramag town, 11 participating seed companies planted 17 hybrid rice varieties in 35 hectares of land.
Dr. Janet Lopez, DA-10 provincial operations center chief of Bukidnon, thanked the local government, seed companies, farmer associations—particularly the Patag Coroa Irrigators Association which hosted the techno demo—and farmer-landowners who offered their lands to be utilized for said techno demo.
“We are thankful to those who made this techno demo possible. The results of this activity will greatly help the department in providing our farmers the better seeds suitable in your area,” she said.
Lopez also emphasized that the techno demo is in support of the modernization pillar of the 'OneDA Reform Agenda,' which includes the promotion of new technology such as hybrid rice seeds in order to achieve a prosperous and resilient Philippines with empowered farmers and fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, Karl Roman O. Wong, project leader of the rice techno demo under the agency's Rice Program, said that a farmers’ forum will be held in March to present the gathered data and the results of the activity. A consultation between farmers and technicians will also be one of the major highlights of the forum.
The next leg of the harvest festival for cluster hybrid rice techno demo will soon be held in the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay, as well as in Kalilangan town.
Bukidnon Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia Lagamon and her staff, DA-10 personnel, officials from Maramag local government, farmers, and residents of barangay South Poblacion came to witness and grace the harvest festival. (DA-10/PIA 10-Bukidnon)
