FLORA, Apayao – The municipal government hosted the Provincial Rice Technology Forum (PRTF) Wet Season 2024 Field Day and the Launching of Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program on September 10, 2024 at the Dr. Efren U. De San Jose Memorial Sports Center to encourage the adoption of yield-boosting rice technologies and increase rice productivity in the province.
About 500 farmers from various Apayao towns and as 23 private rice seed companies, participated in the field tour and demonstration forum, allowing them to see firsthand the diverse range of rice varieties, the impact of bio-fertilizers, soil ameliorants, and other cutting-edge rice technologies.
The Masagana Rice Industry Development Programme (MRIDP) and the launching of the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program were the highlights of the activity.
The forum, organized by the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office Cordillera (DA-RFO-CAR) in collaboration with local governments, the Provincial Office of Agricultural Services (POAS), and other stakeholders, is aimed at encouraging the adoption of hybrid rice varieties while showcasing the best and latest farming technologies.
Additionally, it showcases hybrid rice varieties using various rice farming technologies by establishing a demonstration project, as well as to encourage farmers to adopt modern rice farming techniques, thereby achieving the goals and objectives of increasing yield while lowering rice farmers’ production costs.
Furthermore, the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program intends to assist rice farmers by providing low-interest financial assistance as well as crop insurance (2% annual interest rate).
The program provides 60,000.00/ha to qualifying farmer-beneficiaries (28,000.00 for agricultural supplies and farm services at any accredited merchants and service providers, and 32,000.00 subsistence allowance to be paid at 8,000.00 every first week of the month).
The assistance will be received by the farmer through the Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC). Part of the Program was the awarding of Certificates to the 23 Participating companies.
Natividad Ramos, Flora Municipal Agriculturist and Regional Rice Program Coordinator, CAR, attended the launching, along with Edwin Joseph A. Franco, Danilo P. Daguio, Regional Technical Director for Operations Department of Agriculture, Glenn DC. Estrada, DA-CAR Director for Digitalization and Value Chain Development, Rineth Morales, Fund Crediting Overview DBP Program Assistant, Rowena Del Rosario Sadicon, Link to Marketing PRISM Lead Convener and other stakeholders.
The program culminated with an open forum where farmers asked questions and issues discussed concerning their crops and agricultural productivity. By Michelle Acantilado
