06/11/2024
Agri news | Rice field day in Pinamungahan, Cebu held
In pursuit of a sustainable agriculture on rice production, a farmer’s field day on hybrid rice derby technology demonstration was held today, November 5, 2024, at Barangay Anopog, Pinamungahan, Cebu.
Initiated by the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) through the Regional Rice Program, in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist-Cebu (OPA Cebu), and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Pinamungahan, with the participation of the six seed companies, the rice derby showcased the outstanding performances of the different hybrid rice seeds in a seven (7) hectare rice field managed by the members of the Anopog Paglaum Irrigators Association (APIA).
Of the 7 hectares, 5 seed companies showcased their 2 best rice varieties with an area of .5 hectare each and 1 company showcasing their 3 best varieties in an area of 1 hectare.
From the gathered cropcut data, each of the rice variety showed promising performance, achieving an average metric tons (MT) yield production of 5.33 metric tons/ha; 5.6 mt/ha; 5.7 mt/ha; 6.03 mt/ha; 6.6 mt/ha; 6.62 mt/ha; 6.70 mt/ha; 7.35 mt/ha; 7.78 mt/ha; 7.81 mt/ha; 7.84 mt/ha; 8.48 mt/ha. Of the varieties, the top rice variety yield an average of 8.53 mt/ha.
Reassuring the farmers of the DA’s commitment, Regional Technical Director for Operations, Engr. Cirilo N. Namoc, affirmed the rice farmers that in a million-kilometer journey, it always starts with a single step and the rice derby was the start of that journey. He encouraged everyone to share the positive results to other rice farmers and associations.
“Anopog is the ground zero. Spread the good news that by using hybrid seeds, there is really a potential to achieve high yield in production, following the appropriate scientific approaches, technologies, and irrigation systems among others,” he said.
Iris Balones, one of the cooperators of the rice derby techno demo and an APIA member expressed her gratitude to DA7 and all the partner-agencies for bringing hope to farming, that to her rice fields, as she shared her before and after experiences of the derby.
“Sa 15 years nako nga gatanom og in-bred seeds, karon pami nakasuway og tanom sa hybrid. Dako gyud kaayo siyag gikatabang sa amo a kay dako gyud siya og abot,, before 24-26 ka sako, karon, nakakuha ko’g 45 ka sako. Sa next cropping, pillion gyud nako ang hybrid kay dako gyud siyag abot,” she exclaimed.
(With my 15 years in farming using in**ed rice, this is my first time to use hybrid rice. It is a big help because of its high yeild. Usually, we only harvest around 24-26 sacks, but now was able to harvest 45 sacks. In the next cropping, I will use hybrid rice because of its high yield.)
In addition, a public servant turned farmer and one of the cooperators, Wenceslao Gentapa, added that he learned new technologies and approaches to achieve high yield in production and increase income.
“Nagpasalamat mig dako kay diri sa ginabuhat nga rice derby, after 15 years nga nibiya ko sa farming, naenganyo kog balik magtanom og humay kay diri namo nakita na taas gyud diay ang abot, times two, labi na hybrid seeds amo gitanom karon, nakakat-on pa gyud mi og mga bag-ong teknolohiya aron mulambo pa ang among pagpanguma,” he said.
A plaque of recognition was also given to the LGU Pinamungahan, MAO of Pinamungahan, OPA-Cebu, participating seed companies, and a certificate of appreciation was handed to the APIA cooperators who accepted the challenge into rice hybridization.
Present also in the event were DA7 Field Operations Division Chief, Dr. Gerry S. Avila, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief, Elvin Milleza, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer of Cebu, Marina C. Viniegas and her staff in PATCO-Cebu, personnel from the DA-Rice program, OPA-Cebu Provincial Rice Coordinator, Joseph Dela Cerna, the regional seed coordinator, Rico Barquez, representative from PhilRICE, National Irrigation Administration-Cebu, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, Local Chief Executives and Sangguniang Bayan members of LGU Pinamungahan, and agricultural extension workers from LGU Toledo, Carcar, Ronda, Talisay, Argao, Naga City, Barili, and Cebu City.
