(lower image[1] from SlideShare)
I am reading ANN’s Facebook post, “Farmer Co-Operator Testimony[2]” (Author Not Named, 18 October 2021), from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Cagayan
Valley Regional Crop Protection Center Region 2 (RCPC 2). I see Palayamanan reincarnated
as Rice-Based Integrated Farming System
(IFS), no ifs and buts, and the farmer-cooperators of RCPC 2 are happy! So is
this agriculturist!
On Facebook, Jonabelle
Infante says the project “Outscaling Of Rice-Based Farming System
Launched In Jones” (Isabela) was started by RCPC 2 on 27 November 2020. With
funding by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), 50 farmer-cooperators
from Barangays Arub-ub and San Jose received the following: water
pumps, corn & vegetable seeds, free-range chicken for egg production,
organic and inorganic fertilizers, and a Trichoderma
fungus culture for making compost. Before this, it was noted that the majority
of farmers were practicing monoculture – the growing of rice only.
The news report is of the outscaling of upland rice-based
farming systems in Jones, Isabela, one of 16 outscaling projects funded by the
BAR in support of the Plant, Plant, Plant
Program of the DA amid the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
The seeds distributed in Jones included hybrid corn for
cropping December to March, upland rice for June to October, open-pollinated
vegetables (such as string beans, eggplant and pepper) for year-round planting
– and banana. The farmers’ trainings included the raising of free-range
chicken, growing of straw mushroom (Volvariella
volvacea). making compost with
the activator Trichoderma, as well as
keeping records.
Ms Jonabelle says:
Regional Technical
Director for Research and (Regulations) Rose
Mary G Aquino reminded the farmer-cooperators that the project inputs (were)
just instruments for them to achieve success and challenged them to encourage
other farmers to practice the technologies of the project.
I
see that Ms Mary Rose makes an excellent point: The success of the Jones farmers with the IFS depended mainly on their
cooperation and not the project inputs, which have to be used properly.
Jones Mayor Leticia
Sebastian reminded the farmers to share with other farmers the water
pumps and encouraged them to take good care of those.
The farmers gave thanks to the RCPC 2 project. I am
translating freely: Kennedy P Mangaoil
said, “I am lucky that among the many farmers in our barangay, I was chosen as
a project beneficiary.” Angelito Tangonan
said, “We thank DA Region 2 and BAR for bringing the project to our place. Even
if the project has not been completed, already we can see the great benefits
coming from it.” Jones Curammeng
“pledged to share the technologies he learned from the project.”
My agriculturist congratulations to the BAR and staff
of RCPC in Cagayan Valley!@517
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