DAR project improves rice production in Ilocos Norte

Adjudicators of the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) of Region I held a training-workshop on agrarian laws on February 22-24 in Baguio City. Regional Adjudicator Annabelle Madayag-Oandasan (first row, second from the left) gave a lecture on the latest jurisprudence on agrarian cases. (Jopo Guerrro)

Aiming to increase rice production, the Department of Agrarian Reform through its Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project III (ARISP), implemented a Hybrid Rice Production Project in Ilocos Norte.

The project, which was carried out by the San Roque Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ARC) at the Cabaroan Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), was designed to improve rice yield through the use of hybrid seeds, organic fertilizer and appropriate farm technologies.

It was implemented in three phases: the first phase was a production of hybrid rice in an area of 18.25 hectares with 67 farmer beneficiaries; the second phase involved an increased area of 36.5 hectares with 69 farmer-beneficiaries; and the third phase was rice production in 38.5 hectares with 72 farmer beneficiaries.

Farmer beneficiaries or cooperators are agrarian reform beneficiaries who are members of the cooperative in good standing and owners of area of tillage of not less than 0.5 hectares.

These cooperators were given enhancement training on hybrid rice production conducted through the assistance of the Department of Agriculture in coordination with the local government unit.

After the training, each cooperator received a loan in the form of inputs like pesticides, organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers, like urea 46-0-0, 14-14-14, 16-20-0 and 0-0-60.

Based on the area of tillage, the highest amount of loan per cooperator was P8,720, while the lowest was P3,460. In addition, each cooperator was given five fruit tree seedlings to be planted in their backyards.

The farmer beneficiaries were also given training on management capability, recording skills, monitoring and the conduct of enterprise development activities. This training helped them update their books of account and prepare their financial statements and other mandatory reports.

Because of this project, each cooperator was able to increase his income from an average of P3,200 per hectare to an average of P20,500 per hectare.

The farmers were also able to improve their knowledge on cultural management technology on hybrid rice production and utilization of irrigation facilities which resulted in the increase of farm yield from 80 cavans per hectare to 120 cavans per hectare.

This project now serves as the “demonstration farm” for other farmers who want to replicate the system in their own farms and receive the same profit. Its end result is not only beneficial to the cooperators but it also pours advantage to all communities dependent on rice production.

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BARD NOTES: Happy bard-reading to Mayor Chevylle Fariñas, Vice Mayor Michael V. Fariñas, Provincial Treasurer Josephine Calajate, INWD General Manager John Teodoro, Dr. Miramar Bumanglag and PNB Laoag Branch Manager Metty V. Guerrero.