Known to be one of the major rice-producing provinces of the MIMAROPA Region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Rice Productivity Advocacy, Inc. (Rice Board) chose Oriental Mindoro, particularly Calapan City to conduct the 9th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF).
NRTF is a semi-annual event of DA in partnership with Rice Board that promotes new technologies in rice production such as the adoption of hybrid rice and different modes of transplanting.
On August 8, the said event kicked off at Barangay Malad Covered Court in the city. This was made possible in collaboration with the city and provincial government unit.
“This is a big effort. Nakita niyo yung palayan diyan. December palang nag-uusap na kami. There’s a lot of work behind, but the people behind it (DA, Rice Board, City and Provincial Government) is very passionate to do this kaya nandito tayo ngayon,” said Recher Ondap, President of the Rice Board, as he explains how the NRTF was made.
The event started with a motorcade from Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Trade (MinSCAT) going to Brgy. Malad to lure more people to see the demonstration of hybrid varieties from different private seed companies.
The demo site is a 35.8 has. rice land that is managed by the shared efforts of 11 farmer-cooperators and private seed companies such as Seedworks, Corteva, Syngenta, PRASAD, Longping, Bayer, and SL AgriTech. DA RFO MIMAROPA, PhilRice, and PHilSCAT also established demo farms of both hybrid and inbred rice varieties in the said area.
Guests and participants had a preview of the demo site for the program’s venue were inside the vicinity of the 35.8 has.. The planted rice is currently in the vegetation stage, standing sturdy and green.
Calapan City’s Committee Chairman on Agriculture Councilor Charles Pansoy was in awe when he saw the demo site and generously gave his compliments during his speech in the program.
“Nakita ko ang ganda ng palayan. Magandang biyaya ito sa Calapan at sa probinsiya ng Mindoro. Iwanan na ang lumang teknolohiya sa pagpapalay,” he said.
Aerial shot of the demo site and the venue for the launching of 9th NRTF.
As gratitude to the dedicated time and effort of the 11 farmer-cooperators, they were recognized in the event with a certificate of recognition and tokens.
While the event comes to a close, all the attendees shared a classic boodle fight to promote a closer relationship with all the sectors involved.
The launching was attended by 300 participants comprising of the different DA staff, private seed companies, farmers from nearby municipalities, city and provincial government units, and other government agencies.
Precision farming
During the program, the speakers of the event gave emphasized on modern agriculture to make the rice industry competitive especially in the presence of the Rice Import Liberalization Law.
Regional Executive Director Antonio G. Gerundio emphasized the importance of educating the farmers regarding precision farming in his speech.
“Nandiyan na ang mga teknolohiya dapat ay matuto tayo gumamit nito,” he said adding that the country was already behind in terms of modernizing agriculture.
He also added that adapting to modernization could help to attain the goal of the newly appointed acting Secretary---Dr. William Dar which is making the life of farmers prosperous.
He also mentioned giving importance to marketing, industrialization, and other priorities of the new Secretary.
While Provincial Administrator Dr. Hubbert Dolor, representative of Governor Bhonz Dolor, lauded the private seed companies for generously cooperating with the government to share their knowledge in rice farming.
“Ibinibigay na po sa atin ang mga angkop na teknolohiya at binhi katulong po ng ating mga partners, Ang kailangan na lamang po ay pagtanggap,” he said encouraging the farmers to participate and learn in the 9th NRTF.
After the launching, the culminating awaits which the result of the demo site will be presented to different stakeholders from other regions including MIMAROPA on October 2 to 4. Apart from the showcase of the result, the activity will have plenary sessions and other exhibits.
