Bridging the gap: Albay 3rd District farmers dialogue with agriculture experts

Mr. Bernardino Dizon (left) and Mr. Constante Adalla (right) demonstrate the grafting of Pili seedlings during the "Sa Kabukiran: Talakayan ng Pangkat Kaunlaran" at Ligao City Gym, 21 May 2015.

Farmers from different city/municipalities of Albay 3rd District were able to get firsthand information and had their queries directly answered by agricultural experts during the seminar-cum-dialogue program, “Sa Kabukiran: Talakayan ng Pangkat Kaunlaran” at the Ligao City Gymasium on 21 May 2015.

Sponsored by Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez and the City Government of Ligao headed by City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua in partnership with ABS-CBN DZMM Teleradyo, the activity was conceptualized due to public demand to conduct a localized discussion of in-demand and site-specific information.

More than 1000 farmers from Libon, Polangui, Oas, Ligao City, Jovellar, Pioduran, and Guinobatan attended the event. Experts from different fields of agriculture presented information, demonstrated several methods, and answered questions raised by participants. Among the topics covered by the experts include the following:

Dr. Frisco Malabanan – Hybrid Rice Production
Mr. Louie Tabing – Virgin Coconut Oil Making at Home
Mr. Bernardo Dizon – Fruit Tree Propagation Techniques
Dr. Aida Adalla – Opportunities in Crops for Natural Ingredients
Mr. Constante Adalla – Root Crop Production Techniques
Mr. Greg Nicdao – Ram Pump and Drip Irrigation Technique
Dr. Erlinda P. Rillo – Tissue Culture Production
Mr. Romeo Opeña – Vegetable Production Technology Techniques
Ms. Rosselle De Guzman – Marketing Agri-Products

Aside from presenting new technologies, experts also recommended high market value crops and high quality varieties. Dr. Frisco Malabanan, an expert in hybrid rice production, recommended the SL-8H hybrid rice variety due to increased amount of output it produces compared to inbred rice. Roselle De Guzman suggested that farmers plant “Pakbet” vegetables: eggplant, okra, squash, and bitter gourd, Chopsuey vegetables, and spices: garlic, onion, and ginger. Dr. Malabanan also stressed that farmers can generate high income using the right kind of variety and proper crop management.

The experts also see the potential of Albay in agricultural business because of its rich natural resources. Bernardo Dizon, who discussed on managing fruit-bearing trees, said that he envies the Bicolanos because of its beautiful soil. “Naiinggit po ako sainyo, dahil nandito ang pinakamagandang soil-volcanic soil [I envy you, because you have the most beautiful soil, the volcanic soil],” said Dizon. DZMM Teleradyo Sa Kabukiran host, Louie Tabing, meanwhile believe that Bicolanos should be happy that coconut milk is a favorite in the locality. People who consume more coconut oil are more likely to live longer, according to Tabing.

Local farmers not only benefit from easy access to technical assistance but the strong support of local government units in prioritizing agricultural projects. In Ligao City, several agricultural programs for farmers have been recognized which brought LGU-Ligao to the list of outstanding LGUs in Bicol. Aside from agricultural programs, infrastructures were also developed to facilitate farming activities as well as marketing of farm products. Congressman Gonzalez said that the government is allocating funds to irrigate drought-prone areas and improve the farming system in upland and coastal areas.

Farmer stories proved PhilRice's "P1M profit per hectare per year" campaign a success

Read Mang Carte's story in PhilRice Magazine
 Ripples of Change, p.17

As PhilRice Bicol sets sail to achieve the target profit of one million pesos (P1M) per hectare per year, the success is indefinite until the first implementation of the Integrated Rice-based Agri-Bio System (IRBAS) project-based business has been completed and the target profit has been achieved. While success cannot be determined at this early stage of implementation, stories of farmers marked a positive outlook towards a positive result.

In the April-June 2014 issue of the PhilRice Magazine titled Ripples of Change, success stories of farmers who benefited from PhilRice's campaign were featured, elaborating their life-changing farming experiences and how they reach the one million-peso target profit.

One of the featured stories in the magazine was of Ricarte "Manong Carte" Corpuz' of Ilocos Norte. Manong Carte earns P719,700 from planting hybrid rice for three (3) croppings in one hectare for one year. He also plants corn and mungbean which accounts for an income of P50,000 and P187,000 from planting watermelon. He also raises cattle which gives him an income of P47,000 and P92,000 for raising pigs.

Read Mang Carte's full story and how he was able to earn more than a million in one year and other stories in Ripples of Change. An online version of the magazine is embedded below.

Read other issues of PhilRice magazine here.

Written by Lala Peñafiel

Reference:
Parac, E. (2014). The 'I's in a Million Earning. PhilRice Magazine Ripples of Change. Philippine Rice Research Institute, Volume 27, No.II. Pages 16-17.

Heat is over; Albay gears up for rainy season

Rains have started pouring down and dry season is almost over. With the onset of the rainy season, Albay- a typhoon-prone area- has to prepare for the expected frequent rains brought by the season.

Albay 3^rd District Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez explained that with the expected rains, it is necessary that these rains be made useful to irrigate agricultural lands such as rice fields. “What is essential now and necessary is how best we can make use of the rains that are expected to arrive soon,” said Congressman Gonzalez.

Water resources such as rain are mostly needed in drought-prone rice fields. Hence, the rainy season is an opportunity to irrigate the rice fields and not to flood communities. “These rains must be directed towards irrigating our rice fields which are now starving for water. Should we fail to manage these expected rains and bring them to our rice fields, all these rainfall shall not be properly used,” explained Congressman Gonzalez.

PHOTO: (Top) The irrigation dam at Catburawan, Ligao City will serve as irrigation system for farms at Badian, Oas and Catburawan, Ligao City. (Bottom) The recently finished irrigation system will irrigate the farms at Allang, Ligao City.

To ensure the delivery of the water resource from rainfall, water distribution and irrigation systems were built and now being maintained in the different areas of Albay 3^rd District. “In order to ensure that these rains reach the rice field…it is necessary that all irrigating canals, water impounding units, and dams are all functioning and ready to distribute the water and irrigate the rice fields,” said Congressman Gonzalez.

One of the flood control dikes in the 3rd District of Albay is constructed in a flood-prone area at Oas, Albay.
More photos of flood control dikes

The water distribution systems were built in flood-prone areas to prevent flood from devastating communities. These water resources are instead directed to drought-prone areas especially the rice fields which are not properly irrigated. “Failure in our distribution systems shall cause the wastage of the water from the rains since it will not be directed into the rice fields but into areas where it is not necessary or needed. Therefore, the major objective now during this period is ensuring that our rain water, that our expected and upcoming rains shall be fully utilized to irrigate our rice fields and not to flood our residential,” according to Congressman Gonzalez.

Related article:
Albay 3rd District flood control dikes: protecting communities against loss of lives and properties

PhilRice Bicol: Opening opportunities for Bicolanos and the agricultural sector

The establishment of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol station at Ligao City paved the way to many opportunities for Bicolanos especially those in the agricultural sector.

Through the initiative of Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the PhilRice Bicol Station was successfully established and inaugurated on March 25, 2010 at Batang, Ligao City. Aside from the geographical advantage of Ligao City, the local government also maintain a strong support and partnership with PhilRice, making Ligao City the best location for the PhilRice Bicol.

Opportunities for farmers and investors

As a new established station, PhilRice Bicol is inviting farmers to come and see the rice farming technologies available in the station. These technologies include the Leaf Color Chart (LCC)1, a tool for identifying the right amount of fertilizer to apply in the field, and different varieties of seeds for seed growers.

The station also provide training for farmers by partnering with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). They also provide rice farming advice in which the researchers and rice farming experts can visit the field and provide solutions for the problems encountered by farmers. While farmers are being trained as seed growers, the station also provide them income by buying the seeds they produced one peso higher than the commercial price.

Dr. Reynaldo Castro, branch manager of PhilRice Bicol, also stated the need for manufacturers of the technologies that they developed. "We have a lot of new machines developed. And we are looking for manufacturers to be accredited," said Dr. Castro.

New PhilRice Bicol station operates at Ligao City

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Bicol Station was established at Batang, Ligao City on March 25, 2010 to focus on minimizing the adverse effects of climate change in rice production including typhoon, flooding, and drought.

According to Dr. Reynaldo Castro, branch manager of the PhilRice Bicol, most of the research and development projects of PhilRice Bicol lean towards climate change but the scope of all research, training, and development depends on the needs of the farmers.

Ligao City is almost at the center of the region which makes it easier to visit even by the people from the island provinces, said Dr. Castro. Through the initiative of the Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez and former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez, the PhilRice Bicol Station was established at Ligao City. "I think the key to success to [a] government project is the cooperation and, of course, the support of the local government. And that is present in Ligao," said Dr. Castro.

With the establishment of the new station, we look for more livelihood, business, career, and academic opportunities for farmers, investors, and agricultural students.

The PhilRice Bicol Station was established under the leadership of Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture, in line with President Noynoy Aquino's agenda on targetting rice self-sufficiency.

The PhilRice Central Experiment Station is located at the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija headed by Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. Visit the official website of the PhilRice at philrice.gov.ph for more information.

Related Links:
Official website of the Ligao City
Official website of the Philippine Rice Research Institute