Monday, April 22, 2024

DA-10 launches upland hybrid rice demo farm in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To further boost Northern Mindanao’s rice production capacity, the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado formally launched its first hybrid upland rice production technology demonstration farm in Bukidnon province

Together with the Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabukalagan Agriculture Cooperative (BUKTAMACO), Bukidnon Provincial Agriculture Office, Malaybalay City Agriculture Office, and Seedwork Philippines, DA-10 recently held its inaugural planting of the three-hectare upland rice production technology trial demo farm in barangays Sumpong and Can-ayan, in Malaybalay City. 

 

The project is designed to undergo a trial phase before full-scale implementation of the eyed 300-hectare demonstration farm, to give way for production technology fine-tuning and area compatibility assessment. 

 

In her message, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca said the project is pivotal to the DA’s goal to increase the region’s rice sufficiency by utilizing upland production areas. 

 

Using an area modeling approach, the project will optimize the potential and opportunities in developing the Ancestral Domains of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as an upland rice production area in the region. 

 

DA-10 Deputy Director for Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), Joel S. Rudinas, said the project provides the base for future agricultural development. 

 

He said by employing an area-based development system, this undertaking can spin out to other commodities in the value chain and integrate other agricultural livelihood activities that can significantly address poverty situations among the IP communities. 

 

Using Seedworks Philippines’ TH-82 hybrid rice production technology, the upland rice demo farm is set to be fully established during the 2024 wet cropping season. 

 

Also, in attendance during the hybrid upland rice technology demo farm launching ceremony are Atty. Burt M. Estrada, BUKTAMACO General Manager, Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon, Bukidnon Provincial Agriculturist, Engr. Richard B. Leono, Malaybalay City Agriculturist, Janet D. Lopez, DVM, DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief, Lucille T. Minguez, DA-10 Regional Crops Protection Center chief. (ATT)

DA eyes 210 hectares hybrid upland rice demo farm in Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In a bid to further boost Northern Mindanao’s local rice production, the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado is eyeing the establishment of 210 hectares of upland hybrid rice production technology demonstration farm in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

In a coordination meeting held Tuesday, January 9, DA-10 laid down preliminary action plans together with the Bukidnon Provincial Agriculture’s Office, Malaybalay City Agriculture’s Office, Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabukalagan Agriculture Cooperative
(BUKTAMACO), Philippine Army, and the partner seed company, SeedWorks Philippines, to set the project in motion.

According to DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, this project is consistent with DA’s sustained effort to attain food security in the region.

She said that with the project, DA’s ultimate goal is to boost upland rice production in Bukidnon, as the pilot province.

Farmers will be introduced to hybrid upland rice production technology to help them increase their yield, particularly since conventional upland rice farming is pegged to yield only two tons per hectare or lower, the director added.

The demonstration farm will be established in three locations in Malaybalay City – barangay Uno, Sumpong, and Can-ayan, within the ancestral domain under the care of BUKTAMACO.

Before full-blown implementation, the project will undergo a trial phase by cultivating two-hectare flat and one-hectare sloppy upland production areas in said localities.

Joel S. Rudinas, DA-10 deputy director for Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), said the project will be implemented using two-pronged strategies – introduction of the hybrid upland rice production technology and preparation of the local farmers for increased production.

He emphasized the project is a breakthrough agricultural undertaking that can exponentially contribute to the region’s food supply on a phase-by-phase implementation, first by utilizing a pre-existing natural farming environment, and later on, introducing agricultural infrastructure for
expanded capacity.

For the first phase of implementation, DA-10 will be providing the required hybrid upland rice seeds, fertilizers as well as mechanized land preparation.

As their counterpart, the DA’s partners will shoulder the labor and maintenance, farm chemicals, technical and administrative assistance, and military support.

The trial demonstration farm will be planted by the end of this month. The project will be in full swing come 2024 wet planting season. (ATT)