Written by the Web Team
To further increase the competitiveness of rice farmers in Region II, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) based in San Mateo, Isabela recently launched a school-on-the-air program dubbed as Madiskarteng Pagsasaka.
The monthly regional agricultural situation report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed that from January to March, Cagayan Valley farmers were affected by rat infestations, very cold and windy weather, and decreased rice price.
“Through this program, we hope to introduce technologies in the most remote areas and help tillers cope with the challenges in rice farming,” said Maricel A. Baliuag, proponent of the Provision of Timely Agricultural Information through Radio Plug-ins and SMS project.
Madiskarteng Pagsasaka, aired every Wednesday, 5:00-5:30 am at DWSI Sonshine Radio 864 kHz and DWPE Radyo ng Bayan 729 kHz, has enrollees from four barangays. These include Brgy. San Juan in Quirino, Isabela; barangays Villa Marzo, Gayong, San Juan, and Aguinaldo in Cordon, Isabela; Brgy. Cabarwan in Solana, Cagayan; and Brgy. Nicolas in Lasam, Cagayan.
Participated by about 25 farmers in each barangay, the radio program airs topic on rice-based crops including mungbean, other income sources such as mushroom production and vermicomposting, and PalayCheck – an integrated crop management system for rice.
Baliuag said that demo sites showcasing the featured technologies will be established in areas covered by the radio program. Results from the demo sites will then be used in identifying location-based technologies.
PhilRice Isabela will also showcase rice production machines during the 20th cityhood anniversary celebration of Santiago City, May 1-5. The machines include micro tiller, plastic drum seeder, open-type carbonizer, rice hull stove, micromill, and multi-crop mill.
Reading materials on climate change, integrated pest management, and rice production will also be displayed.
