CORN HARVEST FEST IN AMPATUAN ENCOURAGES FARMERS AND OFFICIALS TO AIM HIGHER
“We are happy and thankful to YJM farm for showcasing this demo site where farmers are inspired to emulate and strive more”, MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob uttered during the Corn Harvest Festival conducted at the YJM Farm in Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao on September 9, 2020.
The ceremonial harvesting was done first led by Minister Yacob with Assistant to the Minister for Agricultural Operations Engr. Ismail A. Guiamel, MAFAR-Maguindanao Provincial Head Abdulnasser K. Badawi, P4MP President Datu Yamashita Mangacop and other MAFAR key officials.
Minister Yacob said that he was truly inspired seeing the demo site because it is evidence to his advocacy that a true farmer must have his/her own land to cultivate. He also recognized the effort of the YJM Farm especially the owner-managers Yamashita and his wife Dr Jalika D. Mangacop who also serves as Consultant for Agriculture Concerns at the MAFAR.
The MAFAR Chief encouraged all the attendees, especially the MAFAR officials to maximize the interventions for the farmers including the technical support and the knowledge and information that will inspire the farmers improve their farm productivity. “Let us work together and help each other in empowering the farmers for them to realize the essence of farming activities and be proud of themselves being farmers.
The minister also encouraged the farmers to set their focus or main commodity and he promoted synchronous planting to increase productivity and attain sustainable agricultural livelihood.
Meanwhile, the Ampatuan Municipal Mayor Hon. Bai Leah B. Sangki, through her representative Ramil Roy D. Tiolo, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, said the municipality strongly supports all the agriculture programs and activities in the town. Tiolo also expressed that one of the components of the town’s recovery plan amid the Pandemic is the promotion of agriculture livelihood that will help sustain the people’s livelihood during this crisis caused by the COVID-19.
P4MP President Mangacop influenced his co-farmers to plant corn. He said that he planted his corn on May 17, 2020 using Bioseed 108 variety. After three months with good management practices, he is harvesting expecting higher yield.
The harvest fest was also attended by other officials including Fish Production Division OIC-Chief Pendatun Patarasa, Regional Focal Persons fo Rice, Corn, HVCDP and Livestock Program, MAFAR-Maguindanao Operations Officer Dr. Ronjamin M. Maulana and Operations Officer for Fisheries Datun Nur, NSQCS-BARMM Chief Omara Kempa, Bioseed officials headed by Philip Soriano, Engr. Abraham Onotan and other LGU officials.