CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 commenced the first leg of the harvest festival for the cluster Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration in South Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon on February 11, 2022.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said, the cluster hybrid rice techno demo showcases different hybrid rice varieties, which aims to identify the most suitable variety in the locality and to determine the cost-benefit ratio of different hybrid rice varieties.

In said town, 11 participating seed companies with 17 hybrid rice varieties were planted in 35 hectares of land.

Janet D. Lopez, DVM, DA-10 provincial operations center chief of Bukidnon is grateful to the local government, seed companies, farmer associations, especially to the Patag Coroña Irrigators Association who hosted the techno demo, and the farmer-landowners who offered their lands to have the hybrid seeds planted for said techno demo.

“We are thankful to those who made this techno demo possible because the results of this activity will greatly help the department in providing our farmers the better seeds suitable in your area.”

Dr. Lopez also emphasized that conducting a techno demo is in support to the modernization pillar of the ‘OneDA reform agenda’, which includes the promotion of new technology such as hybrid rice seeds in attaining a prosperous and resilient Philippines with empowered farmers and fisherfolk.

Meanwhile, Karl Roman O. Wong, the project leader of the rice techno demo under the agency’s Rice Program, said that a farmer’s forum will also be conducted in March, to present the gathered data and the results of said activity.

Further, a consultation between farmers and technicians will also ensue in said forum.

The next leg of the harvest festival for cluster hybrid rice techno demo will soon be conducted in the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay, and Kalilangan town clusters.

Gracing the said activity are Bukidnon Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia Lagamon and staff, officials of the municipal LGU of Maramag, officials, farmers, and residents of South Poblacion and DA-10 staff. # (Cyrus R. Seraspe)