To showcase the different Science and Technology interventions geared towards increasing farm productivity among farmers in Ilocos Norte particularly those areas vulnerable to drought and flood, 180 farmers and other stakeholders attended the field day in Brgy. Cabisucolan, Vintar, Ilocos Norte last October 22, 2018.

Visiting the 7.5-hectare rice production area in said barangay, the Sustaining Crop Productivity in Climate Vulnerable Areas in Ilocos Norte through Science and Technology-Community Based Farm (STCBF) on Climate Resilient Technologies with DOST-PCAARRD, ILAARRDEC, PGIN, Ilocos Norte LGUs, and other agency partners like PhilRice showcased climate-resilient rice varieties and technologies in cooperation with the Zanjera Marabanos Farmers Association in said municipality.

The Zanjera members adopted the use of climate-resilient technologies such as the use of organic fertilizer, Bio-N as seed inoculant, Carrageenan Plant Growth Regulator as foliar fertilizer, along with improved rice production practices.

Bio-N is a microbial-based fertilizer that converts nitrogen gas into available form to sustain the nitrogen requirement of host plants. It enhances shoot growth and root development, growth, improving yield of host plants, replaces 30-50 percent of the total amount of nitrogen requirement, making the plants resistant to drought and pests, reduces incidence of rice tungro and corn ear-worm attack, and increases yield and milling recovery of rice.

New to farmers, the use of carrageenan PGR from irradiated seaweeds marks another impact to local farmers for its observable effects. CPGR has been recently found to increase rice yield for up to 25-30 percent such that this booster strengthens rice stem, improves resistance to lodging, is compatible with farmer’s practice on fertilizer application, poses high grain yield potential, notable resistance to rice tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight, and no harmful effects on beneficial insects in the farm, hence, an environment-friendly intervention.

Improved rice production practices promoted in the project include the 1K and 6Ps aired at the onset of the rainy season in the School-on-the-Air on Crops and Livestock Technologies with DWCI Radyo Piddig and DWFB 954 Radyo Pilipinas-Laoag. This includes 1) Kalidad iti Bin-I or the use of Quality Seeds (Kalidad iti Bukel), Pannakaisagana ti Pagmulaan (Field Preparation), Panagraep (Transplanting), Panagabono (Fertilizer Application), Panagpadanum (Irrigation), Panagatipa kadagiti Peste (Pest and Diseases Management), ken Panaggapas (Harvesting).

            The Zanjera members planted inbred and hybrid rice varieties to include NSIC Rc 160 (Tubigan 14), NSIC Rc 222 (Tubigan 18).  In addition, 12 more varieties were planted to include  NSIC Rc 238 (Tubigan 21), NSIC Rc 240 (Tubigan 22), NSIC Rc 300 (Tubigan 24), NSIC Rc 302 (Tubigan 25), NSIC Rc 308 (Tubigan 26), NSIC Rc 390 (Salinas 19), NSIC Rc 396 (Tubigan 33), NSIC Rc 400 (Tubigan 35), NSIC Rc 402 (Tubigan 36), NSIC Rc 438 (Tubigan 38), NSIC Rc 440 (Tubigan 39), and NSIC Rc 442 (Tubigan 40). These varieties were provided by PhilRice and are mostly for irrigated areas (except for NSIC Rc 390 (for saline areas) which was accidentally included) with potential yield ranging from 5-10 tons per hectare and maturity from 104-120 days after seeding (DAS). 

During the program held after the field visit, Mr. Clemente Viernes of the Office of the Municipal Agcirulture and serving as the Focal Person of the STCBF Project said that “Kompara kadagitay nakitkitatayo a pagay a kataeb dagiti pagay nga intayo sinursor itay, talaga a makitatayo a mas nakidkidser ken napimpintas ti takder dagiti naaplayan iti Bio-N ken Carrageenan. Ket makunak a balligi daytoy a programatayo ta no kitaentayo ti resultana, uray no binagio ni Ompong, still, adda kasdiay a takder ken pintas dagitoy mulatayo. Ken base iti field observationtayo, makitatayo a promising varieties dagitoy agraman dagiti interventions a naited ditoy...”, hence, a successful activity to highlight these rice varieties and technologies to advance agriculture in the local areas.

The field day was also attended by officials of Vintar, Ilocos Norte, OPAG, and other municipalities like Bacarra, INAC in Pasuquin, Marcos, and Solsona, Ilocos Norte.

Through sustained partnership with the different municipalities in the province, it is hoped that these science and technology community-based farms established with the different farmer organizations will serve as an eye opener to other farmers in the province to adopt the various technology interventions introduced. With more and more farming communities reached, a more resilient Ilocandia and more informed Ilokanoes will be achieved. (KSM/MRG)

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