Iloilo farmers finish school on air radio program for rice production

 

The five-month-long School On Air on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) radio program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas capped on October 11 with around 400 farmer-graduates from the Municipalities of Dingle, Passi City, Pototan, and Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

DA Western Visayas conducted the SOA-SRA over DYRI RMN Iloilo 774kHz from June to October this year to complement the interventions provided by the agency under the MASAGANA Rice Program, targeting a significant increase in the production and yield of palay growers in palay-producing towns in the province.

Regional Information Officer James Earl Ogatis underscored that SOA-SRA intends to catalyze advancements in the rice industry through the massive and sustained education of smallholder farmers and local intermediaries in smart rice production technologies anchored on Palay Check System, Integrated Pest Management, and Soil Health.

DA Rice Program Agriculturist II Ian Calibara, who tackled different support the department provides to farmers under the MASAGANA Program for wet and dry cropping seasons this year, confirmed the graduation of SOA-SRA graduates.

The top five SOA-SRA graduates from each participating municipality were awarded sets of garden tools, radio, and recognition certificates from DA.

Meanwhile, National Food Authority (NFA) Acting Regional Manager Herielle Jumagbas urged farmers harvesting their palay this month onwards to support the NFA’s palay buffer stocking. Farmers could sell their clean and dry palay for P29.00 per kilogram to NFA.

Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation VI Regional Manager Eva Ulie Laud and Chief Marketing Sales Jose Ma. B. Torres Jr. discussed their programs and services on crop insurance that will provide relief to rice farmers during pest infestation, flooding, and adverse weather events that could affect their palay output.### Photos by KDCCaldina & VNOQuimpo/DA-RAFIS 6