Spearheaded by Regional Corn Focal Person Engr. Maria Christina Inting, Department of Agriculture – MiMaRoPa held the Corn Harvest Festival highlighting OPV var 6 or white corn, uniting various local farmers and government units to celebrate a bountiful corn harvest in Sitio Siapo, Pinagturilan, Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro last February 21 – an activity proved meaningful to local farmers as it signified continuous recovery from past El Nino, La Nina, and two (2) simultaneous typhoons Tisoy and Ursula.
The Corn Harvest Festival is a demo of a particular crop variety particularly, the OPV var6 or white corn, supplied by DA-MiMaRoPa Corn Program. Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Gerardo Laredo then explained about the trichogramma, biological control agents which parasitize insect eggs that may harm the crops, especially against corn borer.
The said activity was also a celebration for being a National Quality Corn Achievement Awardee, receiving a P1M cash prize as recognition for the efforts of the corn farmers.
Farmers were given the opportunity to express themselves during the activity. Rodegeline Artecilla, a corn farmer from Gintong Butil Association of Landmark Corn Cluster shared her experiences this 2018-2020, “Binaha kami ng La Nina noong 2018 at napinsala muli ang aming mga pananim nang sumunod na taon dahil sa El Nino. Dumating naman po ang Bagyong Tisoy na sumalubong po sa aming mga mais. Bagamat bumangon, sinundan po ni Ursula.” The association’s 2-hectare farm harvested 14 corn cavans. 4-hectare, 17-hectare, 16 hectare more others were damaged. On the other hand, a 3- hectare land earned 40 cavans and still harvesting.
Corn Staff Van Eric Morillo and Edgar Capuyan led the guests in a field tour of the corn site and an experience in harvesting the OPV var6 from the model farm. Agricultural Technologist Henry Sualog then further explained the programs offered for farmers such as Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP), and those under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) such as Agricultural Producer Protection Plan and other insurance programs.
“Mga samahan ngayon ang focus namin para distributed ang aming suporta. Hopefully, ipaabot ninyo lang po ang inyong iba pang pangangailangan sa inyong barangay, sa Municipal Agriculturist, sa provincial office together po sa aming mga taga-Region” stated Focal Person Engr. Inting, “Maniwala po kayo sa gobyerno – kayo ay aming tutulungan sa abot ng aming makakaya.”
In the Municipal Agriculturist Josefina Villa’s stead, Municipal Corn Coordinator Johnnie Ramos sent his heartfelt appreciation to Regional Executive Director Antonio Gerundio, Regional Technical Director for Operations Elmer Ferry, Provincial Corn Coordinator Jupiter Tividad, and Sta. Cruz Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council Chairman Fernando Tuscano and all those who graced the occasion.
