INTEGRATED FARMING, KEY TO RICE FARMERS’ RESILIENCY

DA-Davao official said an integrated farm will increase the income of farmers

While we need to boost rice production in the country, our farmers should not be dependent on one crop. They should learn to practice crop diversification and livestock integration to increase their income.

RICARDO OÑATE, JR. DA-Davao regional director

GROWING rice with other crops while raising livestock and fishery will provide our rice farmers with better income amid uncertainties such as emerging diseases and climate change.

Department of Agriculture (DA) regional director for Davao Region Ricardo Oñate, Jr. said during the simple ceremony to launch the Integrated Farming System (IFS) to support the Rice Resiliency Program in Tagum City.

“While we need to boost rice production in the country, our farmers should not be dependent on one crop. They should learn to practice crop diversification and livestock integration to increase their income,” Oñate said while citing last year’s low-buying of palay.

He mentioned maximizing land area through IFS such as the model farm established by Tagum City.

The five-hectare Agri-Aqua Learning Resource Center in New Balamban, Tagum City showcases the upscaling of NextGen rice variety particularly Rc 436 or Tubigan 37-inbred rice suitable for irrigated areas can produce a yield of up to 10 tons per hectare.

A photovoltaic insect light trap for the rice research project is also situated on the farm.

The model IFS farm houses a mushroom production area to help farmers utilize farm waste and earn additional income. It has also a duck raising area for Itik Pinas, a genetically superior breeder duck, and a tilapia pond where farmers can engage in duck and egg production including inland aquaculture while tending to their rice fields.

“The IFS concept is not new but most of our farmers need the inspiration to adopt the technology. This is a model farm for crop diversification and livestock-fishery integration of which other LGUs can learn and replicate to help improve their farmers’ income,” Oñate said.

DA-11 Research Division Chief Melani Provido reiterated the vitality of livestock integration and crop diversification for the resiliency of the farmers.

“Farmers have to come up with additional ways to gain income, such as adding other components to their farm,” she said.

She also said that NextGen rice variety has a higher yield and was considered acceptable after conducting a preference analysis for the said variety.

Tagum City Agriculture Chief Harold Dawa said the IFS model farm is a collaborative effort of the local and national government, particularly DA, which if adopted replicated to other parts of the region will surely help the country attain its food adequacy target.