DA Caraga's Field Day showcases adaptable agri-technologies
BUTUAN
CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga’s Del Monte Lowland Rainfed
Research Station conducted a Farmers’ Field Day to showcase adaptable
agricultural technologies currently conducted in the station.
The
Field day held on October 11, 2022 highlighted the Soybean Seed Production
Project and Sorghum Research Trial.
The
conduct of Field Days is meant to showcase and disseminate various packages of
technologies to the farmers and other stakeholders.
The
Soybean Seed Production Project used the Select Manchuria and Select Tudela
Black varieties which were planted on a 2,500 sq.m. land area in the
station’s premises. The seeds used were from the Institute of Plant Breeding
(IPB).
The
IPB is the Institute tasked with developing new and improved varieties that
they share with farmers by collaborating with the DA.
The
Soybean Seed Production Project is also a part of Component 1 of the DA-Caraga’s
Sustainable Feed Formulation Program also called Team Bahug which promotes the
utilization of locally available raw materials to produce quality but
affordable feeds.
Meanwhile,
sorghum is a climate-resilient grain crop grown mainly for food, fuel, feeds,
forage, and fertilizer. The Department is promoting sorghum production to
support the livestock and poultry industry in the country. The planted sorghum
for the Sorghum Research Trial which is scheduled for harvest by November aims
to demonstrate the suitability of the crop in the region.
Also,
to assure farmers that there is a market for sorghum, a potential buyer, the
AMCB Enterprise, was also invited during the activity. AMCB Enterprise is a
feed manufacturing company based in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Moreover,
there was a ceremonial signing of the Supply and Purchase Agreement (SPA)
between the DA, farmer Archie Jacinto, and the AMCB. The SPA stipulates that
the AMCB shall purchase sorghum grains from Jacinto, who is endorsed by the
DA-Caraga, upon harvest time this coming November.
In
line also with the celebration of the 2nd Livestock and Poultry
Month, the Livestock Program facilitated the distribution of 200 free-range
chicks to participants of the Field Day. Another 100 heads of the chicks were
also turned over to Barangay Captain Felipa Goloran of Brgy. Sabang Gibong,
Talacogon, Agusan del Sur as livelihood support to the residents of the said
barangay which is situated along the Agusan Marsh.
The
various programs and projects implemented by the Agency are aimed to bring
about agricultural development in the region. The DA emphasizes the importance
of coordination and cooperation with the stakeholders for the success of the
programs. (Vanessa P. Sanchez/ DA13-RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
