More than seventy farmers from the 33 barangays of Jagna actively participated in the Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) cum Preference at the new Municipal Agriculture Office in sitio Lubcanan in barangay Tubod Monte on October 20.
Touted as the first in Region VII, the agricultural activity was aimed at identifying a rice variety or varieties preferred by the participating farmers suited under Jagna’s rice land conditions.
Regional Techno Demo Coordinator Engr. Antonio Du presented to the farmers the rationale of the PVS. He likewise informed them that the full support which Mayor Exuperio Lloren gave to the project is the main reason why Jagna is the site of the varietal trial.
Plant Breeder and RD&E Division Head of Bohol APC Dr. Mary Jean Du emphasized the importance of participatory variety evaluation.
She explained that while Jagna is an agricultural municipality most of its farmlands are rainfed areas hence most farmers would rather adapt than adopt technologies as they like to experiment.
Dr. Du likewise introduced to the farmers the Fertilizer Quick Guide starting from the early growth to active tillering, panicle initiation, heading and on to harvest period.
During the variety evaluation, each farmer was given two tags which served as their vote. One tag signified “like” while the other “dislike”.
Each farmer discerned and voted while at the field observing the six rice varieties the age of which has almost reached maturity. These included NSIC RC 158, 152, 160, 140, 148 and the common PSB RC 18.
Agricultural Technologist Ms. Efieda Castillon presented the result of the counting and consolidation of votes. Most farmers preferred RC 152 for various reasons which included characteristics like early maturing, has bigger grains, intermediate height, shade tolerant, good fillering, tall flag leaf and disease resistant.
Vice Mayor and a farmer himself Teofisto Pagar, Sr. in his short message encouraged his fellow farm workers to be entrepreneurs. He said that industriousness is a key to improve one's economic status in life.
The Vice Mayor expressed gratitude to the technical expertise extended by Engr. Du and his equally competent wife Dr. Du and company and for choosing the municipality of Jagna to be the trial site.
He also urged the farmers to apply in their respective farms what they have learned in the activity, pointing out that all the resources in rice production have all been placed at their disposal.
Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) Camilo Rizano assured the farmers of the local Agriculture Office’s sustained technical assistance through his staff headed by Supervising Technician Ms. Cecile Opada.
Towards the end of the activity thirteen famer-cooperators were also recognized by giving them certificates for participating in the wet season Integrated Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration Project (IHRTDP) for 10 hectares on March 16-September 15, 2009 at Upper Cansuhay in barangay Lonoy of this town.
Top photo shows fifty-five Jagna farmers at the LGU owned rice plots in Carmole, Tubod Monte this town identifying a wide range of traits of six rice varieties during the participatory varietal selection on October 20. These criteria are so important for them in the selection process as they may find them suitable under their local farm conditions. After serious discernment, NSIC Rc 152 is better preferred by the majority since they find the variety in the vegetative phase as weed-competitive; at post-flowering for its height, maturity, yield and grain characteristics. (photos MPIO) |
