DA spearheads Organic Rice Field Day

By Analiza S. Macatangay

PILI, Camarines Sur, Dec. 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office here recently conducted a one-day Organic Rice Field day in line with its project, Development of National Organic Rice Seed Production Systems with Informal Sector. The activity, which was attended by more than 300 farmers at Lapigna, Bula, Camarines Sur, aims to revitalize organic agriculture in all areas of the country.

It was attended by members and officers of the Pecuaria Development Cooperative, Inc. (PDCI) and Camarines Sur Organic Advocateurs Development Council.

Planted in a one-hectare demo farm are organic and aromatic rice varieties which consist of JM 2, Basmati and MS 16, and traditional varieties RC 18 and RC 160. The demo farm is within the more than 800 hectare Pecuaria Rice Central in the municipality of Bula.

The activity is also pursuant to the Philippine Organic Agriculture Law which encourages propagation, development, implementation and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines, among other things. It is being implemented by the DA- Bureau of Plant Industry and funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research.

Dante Fidel, National Seed Coordinator and Agriculture Focal person of the Bureau of Plant Industry said that the seeds produced from this techno demo will be procured by the DA and distributed as starter seeds to farmers engaged in aromatic rice production.

Adelina Losa, Region 5 Organic Agriculture focal person, who came in behalf of Assistant Secretary Salacup commended PDCI for their praise-worthy efforts in coming up with programs and projects promoting sustainable agriculture and for being a model of farmer’s unity as evidence of the success of their cooperative.

In Salacup’s message, he commended the Bicol region for contributing 44 percent of the country’s organic crops production and for contributing 74 percent to the total organic palay production from January to September this year.

PDCI is the leading single producer of organic rice in Bicol region. It is among the five certified organic collaborators chosen by the Department of Agriculture nationwide for its project entitled Development of National Organic Rice Seed Production Systems with Informal Sector.

The other four certified organic farms are the Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija, Kahariam Realty and Farms Inc. in Batangas, the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation Inc., and Bios Dynamis of South Cotabato.

In a press statement, Lovella Guarin from the DA Regional Office stated that Dr. Santiago Obien, Senior Technical Adviser of the DA National Rice Program was impressed with the PDCI’s organized efforts in rice production.

Obein urged the farmers to spread the production of aromatic rice varieties.

He disclosed that NSIC RC 160 is a high-yielding variety developed in CLSU, while the MS 16 (Maligaya Special ) developed by PhilRice has good eating quality. He emphasized the continued support of the DA National Rice Program to the Filipino farmers and promised to revitalize organic agriculture in all areas of the country. (DA/ LSMacatangay-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)