PhilRice/ PNS — Farmers covered by the Science and Technology-Based Farm project in Agusan del Sur increases their yield by about 1 t/ha after a season of implementation, rice growers said during the project’s Farmers’ Field Day and Forum, May 2.
“Kaniadto nga wala pa ang STBF sa among barangay, maka-ani lang ko og 15 ka sako sa akong ¼ ka ektarya nga yuta. Karon, naka-ani nako og 22 ka sako (I used to harvest 15 sacks from my ¼ hectare. Now, I got 22 sacks!),” farmer-cooperator Vevina Fuyoc said.
About 30 farmers in Brgy. San Andres, Bunawan have benefitted from the project since last year’s second cropping season. The project, implemented by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) based in RTRomuladez, Agusan del Norte and Caraga Consortium for Agriculture, Forestry Resources Research and Development (CCARRD), promotes the use of recommended varieties and adoption of environment-friendly pest management practices.
Baseline survey results revealed that rice farmers in the area averaged a yield of 3.36t/ha. After a season of implementation, farmers yield reached about 5 t/ha owing to the use of varieties being promoted in the project’s variety trial sites.
PhilRice researcher Franciso L. Varquez said that the technologies and practices that will be packaged from the site will be scaled-up to other areas by the end of the barangay’s second cropping season.
Meanwhile, CCARRD Director Rowena P. Varela said the good technical assistance of PhilRice and receptiveness of farmer-cooperators contributed to the project’s success.
DA-PhilRice is a government-owned and –controlled corporation that aims at developing high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.