As an avenue to fully promote and encourage the use climate resilient technologies, farmers and agriculture students were all enjoined in the 2019 Farmers Field Day at the Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC) this October 24, 2019.

Around 300 participants toured around the 7.5-hectare demonstration area of the school.  The demo-farm showcased the use of climate resilient technologies such as the use of quality seeds, Bio-N as seed inoculant, carrageenan plant growth regulator (CPGR) as foliar fertilizer, organic fertilizers, balanced use of inorganic fertilizer, and improved cultural management practices.

Organized by the project on Sustaining Crop Productivity in Climate Vulnerable Areas in Ilocos Norte through Science and Technology Community-Based Farm (STCBF) on Climate Resilient Technologies, the field day aims to serve as a show window of the effects of the technologies promoted and a convergence of testimonies and observations from farmers with first-hand experience on these.

Highlights of the activity include the farm visit, parade and tasting of rice-based food products, testimonials, and distribution of farm supplies to partner LGUs and other souvenirs from ILAARRDEC and the STCBF project.

Testimonials and observations on the use of these technologies came from selected partner-farmers from the different farmer organizations assisted by the project. With their experience in their production of corn, peanut, and rice, farmers from Pasuquin, Marcos, Solsona, Batac, and Vintar validated the effectiveness of the technologies in reducing their production costs, maximizing their yield, other added benefits and learning.

Rice-based products developed by the students were also lauded by professors from the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) for the ingenuity and unique taste. Food products developed by the students include Binagkat, cheesy yema rice cake, linapet-suman, rice cookies, maori (patupat), siomaui rice, chalab talfun, and suman-latik.

Engaging farmers and students in one setting provides real and meaningful encounter between the current practitioners and would-be ‘modern-day heroes. It provides an opportunity for students to learn from the farmer’s experiences and be encouraged to help address the escalating challenges in rice production and climate change. By doing so, not only do agencies and workers establish deeper partnership, but it also allows love for farming be immensely cultivated.

The STCBF project is a DOST - PCAARRD funded project collaboratively implemented by MMSU, ILAARRDEC, PGIN through the OPAg, and identified LGUs.

Testimonies: Probing and Proving

For rice production, technologies promoted by the project include the use of climate resilient technologies such as Bio-N as seed inoculant, organic fertilizer, balanced use of inorganic fertilizer, carrageenan plant regulator, climate resilient varieties, and improved cultural management.

• Appropriate and preferred rice varieties planted in the demo-area include NSIC Rc 222 (Tubigan 18), NSIC Rc 214 (Tubigan 16), and NSIC Rc 358 (Tubigan 30). If transplanted, Rc 22 has an average yield of 6.1 t/ha and a maximum yield of 10 t/ha; Rc 214 with an average yield of 6 t/ha and maximum yield of 10.20 t/ha; and Rc 358 with an average yield of 5.4 t/ha and maximum yield of 9.1 t/ha. These rice varieties were planted following straight row planting.
• 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. 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).

Commendations and notable observations beefed the testimonies of assisted rice farmers from Marcos, Solsona, and INAC, Pasuquin.

• Agyamankami iti daytoy a programa ta pudno a nakaad-adu ti naadalmi maipanggep iti panagusarmi iti Bio-N, kasta met iti carrageenan. Ta maidilig kadagiti saan a nagusar iti carrageenan, napimpintas a talaga dagiti naaply-an iti carrageenan. Nakapimpintas ti takderna, ngem gapo ta naisambarkami iti kadaydi habagat, medyo nagdown ti apitmi. (Thank you for bringing us this program. We have learned much about Bio-N and Carrageenan. There is truly a big difference, especially in its evident vigor…)  | Mr. Ferdinand Pascua, Bubuos Farmers’ Association, Solsona
• Dagiti technologies nga intedda, Bio-N ken Carrageenan. Nagbalin amin dagitoy inspite a naammitankami iti drought, awan danummin. Haanda a kaya supusupan dagitoy pump-min. Ngem nagpintas ti outcome-na. Haanmi expektaren a kasta nga agbagas dagiti pagaymi. Siguro gapo kadagitay inyaplikarmi a technology, especially diay carrageenan… saanmi met nga expektaren, nangruna daytoy a side, idi nag-apply-kami iti Bio-n. Daytoy a side ti talaga a problem-mi, mula idi immayak ditoy INAC—aglablabbaga iti bulongna. Idi na-treat-an ti kasdiay idi last year, mimmayat. Tatta a second year, makitayo met, nagbalin dagiti mulana ditoy kenni Sir Jeramel. Nakapimpintas, appo, uray idiay side idiay. Amin, appo. Nakamaymayat. Saanmi nga expektaren. Thank you for the new technology… (The technologies brought to us were Bio-N and carrageenan. Despite the drought experienced, all our plants grew well… such a great outcome. We did not expect this robustness, mayb because ofg the technologies we applied. The northern side of the farm has also been a perennial problem because of reddening leaves. We applied Bio-N last year, and then this year, and as you can see, all areas of our field are in good condition. Thank you for bringing us these technologies). | Ms. Lenie Ibalio, INAC, Pasuquin 
• Idi nagusarak ti carrageenan, makitak ti takder tay pagayko, napintas. Nakalinlinis dagiti bulongna ken ti dawana. Ket nakitak nga adu ti nagbaliwanna, kasla immadu ti apitek. Idi aggapas dagidi paggapasek, ditan a napaneknekak. ‘Ana daytoy pagayyo, angkel? Kasla nagpaiduma man ti dagsen dagiti dawana, kunada.Ket idi ma-thresher-en, talaga a siddaawenda ti dagsenna. Ket idi ma-thresher-en, talaga nga adu ti immaduan daydi apitko. Idi agbilag manen, idi agikiwkiwarda, nakitada a kasla dadakkel dagiti binukelna. Daytay nabussog. Ket dayta siguro ti epekto tay inyispreyko a carrageenan, kunak kadakuada. (When I used carrageenan, I saw an evident vigor of my rice plants, clean leaves and tillers. I saw much change in my plants. Harvest time, and there I concluded the difference on yield, the weight of the full grains is because of the carrageenan that I sprayed). | Mr. Elvis Badua, Agunit Multi-purpose Cooperative, Marcos 
• Idi un-unana paylang ket saanmi pay nga am-ammo dagitoy technology. Addakami pay laeng, appo, iti farmer’s practice—no ana ti nakaugalian a panagmulmula ti mani. Ngem bayat ti naglablabas a tawen, naam-ammonakami ti MMSU ket inikkandakami iti technology—ti carrageenan a nai-apply tii peanut. Idi agmulakami iti mani, inaplayanmi iti NitroPlus, iso ti immula nga inyaplaymi. Ti panagapply iti NitroPlus, umuna a basaem tay bukel ti mani, ngem saan a toally a nabasa a nabasa. Maysa pay ket tay saan a maipalpalag tay bukel ti mani tapnon dumket tay naiyaplay. Iti naglablabas nga aldaw, idi dimmakkel dagidiay a mani, ket nagbunga, nakitami ti outcome-na dagidi a naiyaplay. Pudno, appo, a napintas ti pammagasna, nabussog, dadakkel pay ti bukelna. Adda pay nakitak a progresona. Tay no agmulatayo iti mani, saan unay a napuskol. Napuskol daytay 4 seeds per hill, kasdiay. Saan gayam. Maymayat gayam daytay 3 seeds per hill, kasdiay. Kasdiay lang dapat gayam no agmulatayo iti mani. Ta ammoyo, appo, daydiay mani, no gayam maaplayan ti carrageenan, agsaplak iti daga. Amin a tangkayna, agbagas. Iso a ti makunak ket nakapimpintas unay daydiay a technology nga impaayda kadakami, iso nga agyamyamankami ta inikkandakami manen iti nayon a sursuromi nga agmula iti mani. Nakitami pay nga adu ti naglakuanmi idi naglakokami, ket agyamankami iti MMSU…( In planting peanut, we applied NitroPlus. And truly, we had a good harvest—full, rich grains. Another progress that I saw is that in sowing, 3 seeds per hill yields good. Because when applied with carrageenan, it embraces the ground and all its stems may bear fruits. This technology is truly beneficial, and thank you for bringing these to us… Thank you for the learning, for the yield and the profit. )| Mr. Belarde Aceret, Zanjera San Juan P4MP, Vintar

Rice Value-adding: Learning and Exploring

Given the influx of rapid development and social connectedness, students from the school explored tastes and trips with the different rice-based food products prepared.

Reflective of the culture and diversity of the students, prepared desserts include Binagkat, cheesy yema rice cake, linapet-suman, rice cookies, maori (patupat), siomaui rice, chalab talfun, and suman-latik, each with exquisite taste and charm.

Professors Lorma Valera and Teresita Pablo of the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) lauded these desserts prepared by the students from Grades 7-11. Among all the desserts, the Binagkat by the Agri 11 was hailed the Best. This was followed by the Suman-Latik of the Grade 9-Orion and the Cheesy Yema Rice Cake by the Grade 8 Excellence. Other desserts prepared include the linapet-suman, rice cookies, maori (patupat), siomaui rice, and chalab talfun from the other grades. indeed, rice is so much more than the usual, and can be used to build identity products and tastes. 

Showcasing the promise among these young students are ways of pounding their interest and paving more learnings. Apart from showing the potential of rice-based products, this parade of talents is an indication of a budding and growing number of future agriculturists, food technologists, and scientists of tomorrow. 

Rice-ing Partnerships

“We, in INAC, felt the intense effect of the program especially for our students. because the higher the yield of their rice project and the lower their production cost is, the higher will be the share of their young farmers in the school”—part of the message of Dr. Almer Anatolio Ratuita, the ever-supportive School Principal of INAC.

This is in reflection of the positive impact of the STCBF project in conjunction with their Earn-while-you-Learn program in school. Apart from experiencing a total encounter from seeding, to transplanting, to harvesting, students are taught from practice and theory and science and technology. The program of the school serves as an income generating project for both the school and the students, and enhances their modes of learning since they get to be acquainted with nature.

With the challenges of climate change, food security, industrialization, and changes in the educational landscape, dedicating quality learning and optimum knowledge gained through practical experience not only radiates new knowledge but also a growing and deepening love for agriculture. #

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