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 being conducted in the station.
.JPG)
The Field day held on October 11 highlighted the Soybean Seed Production Project and Sorghum Research Trial.
The conduct
of Field Days are 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 which they
share with farmers by collaborating with the DA.
The Soybean
Seed Production Project is also a part of the Component 1 of the DA-Caraga’s
Sustainable Feed Formulation Program also called as Team Bahug which promotes
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.
Moreover, 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 also 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.
On the other
hand, in line 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 designed 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)
