PhilRice-Bicol hails 428 farmer-graduates of upland rice production training

On stage with the graduates: National URDP Leader Ruben R. Miranda, PhilRice Bicol Branch Manager Dr. Reynaldo C. Castro, PhilRice Executive Director Calixto M. Protacio, and Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol Station conducted a regional Recognition Day for 428 Farmers Field School (FFS) students on 19 November 2015 at PhilRice Bicol Station, Batang, Ligao City. The FFS is a training program on rice production implemented under the Upland Rice Development Program (URDP) by the Regional Agri-Pinoy Team composed of PhilRIce Bicol, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA RFO5), DA Agricultural Training Institute Region 5 (DA-ATI 5), Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs), and Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs). The graduates consist of:

• 32 farmers from Ligao City
• 27 farmers from Milagros, Masbate
• 43 farmers from Irosin, Sorsogon
• 31 farmers from Casiguran, Sorsogon
• 39 farmers from Banquerohan, Legazpi
• 36 farmers from Cagbagong, Legazpi
• 30 farmers from San Vicente, Buhi, Cam. Sur
• 100 farmers from Labawon, Buhi, Cam. Sur
• 36 farmers from Lubgan, Bula, Cam. Sur
• 54 farmers from Garchitorena, Cam. Sur

The graduates of Ligao City; Irosin, Sorsogon; and Lubgan, Bula, Camarines Sur

The farmer-graduates of Casiguran, Sorsogon; Cagbagong, Legazpi; and Labawon, Buhi, Camarines Sur

The farmer-graduates of Bula, Camarines Sur and Milagros, Masbate

The training program is one way of addressing the challenges in sustaining and improving rice production in the country, especially in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions for certain rice varieties.

According to PhilRice Executive Director Calixto M. Protacio, the Philippines will be facing a bigger challenge in the next 25 years considering the continuous population increase and land conversion. "Paano natin tataasan ang produksyon na paliit na paliit ang ating lupa dahil sa dumadami ang Pilipino, nagpapagawa ng bahay, subdivision, mga highways, mga malls. Kinukuha ang ating mga sakahan [How can we increase the production of rice if the agricultural land area is declining due to increase in population, development of subdivisions, highways, and shopping malls? Our farm lands are being taken],"said Dir. Protacio.

In 2040, if the average rice production remains at four tons per hectare (4 tons/ha) and the agricultural land area will remain the same or continue to decrease, the Philippines shall have to produce 8 million tons of rice in order to feed 150 million Filipinos, explained Dir. Protacio while estimating the numbers based on the status quo of rice production in the country. "Paano kaya natin mapapakain ang 150 million sa 2040 [So how do we feed the 150 million Filipinos in 2040?]," asked Dir. Protacio explaining the challenge being faced by PhilRice and the agricultural sector.

The Agri-Pinoy Team conducts training programs to introduce new technologies and farming practices to achieve a sustainable production of rice

PhilRice aims to develop technologies that will help the agricultural community adapt to the challenges brought by unfavorable environmental conditions and industrial development. The FFS is a way of introducing new methods and technologies that will help farmers overcome these challenges.

National URDP Leader Ruben R. Miranda said that while many farmers are still using traditional methods of planting rice, the training aims to teach farmers how to properly manage their farm lands using the appropriate rice variety adaptable to their area.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, who launched the training program on rice production and named as the Father of PhilRice Bicol, said that the establishment of the Bicol station helps address the need to improve the production of rice using new technologies. This will eventually help the local farmers increase their production and income, minimize the expenses, and easily recover from production loss.

Congressman Gonzalez also encouraged the farmer-graduates to maximize the use of technologies and practice the skills and knowledge they learned from the training as this will benefit them in the long run.

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua also considers the establishment of PhilRice Bicol as a blessing to the agricultural sector of Bicol. Being the home of PhilRice Bicol, Ligao City is building a strong partnership with PhilRice and other government agencies to support local farmers by sponsoring training programs such as the FFS. Lala Peñafiel|albay3d.blogspot.com