BEST POSTER AWARD, WON BY MAFAR-TAWI-TAWI DELEGATES DURING PAA CONGRESS
The poster entry titled “ Collection, Characterization, and Genetic Diversity of Tawi-Tawi Traditional Rice Varieties”, with lead authors from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) – Tawi-Tawi Provincial Office, was declared best poster under the research category during the 7thNational Congress and 2019 Philippine Agriculturists’ Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Complex, Pasay City Manila on July 7-11, 2019.
Al-Rashid A. Abdul, former provincial rice coordinator and now the municipal agricultural officer of Mapun and Miralam H. Baslani, former agricultural technologist assigned in Languyan municipality and now the provincial livestock coordinator, received their cash award and best poster certificate signed by Jorge Michael D. Dominguez, MS, Chair of Posters and Exhibits and Dr Rosalina M. Lapitan, PAA National President. With them as co-authors from the Philippine Rice Research Institute-Nueva Ecija,were Teodora E. Mananghaya, Jess Bryan M. Alvariño, Marilyn C. Ferrer, Malvin D. Duldulao, Rachelle P. Mallari, and Jonathan M. Niones.
According to Abdul, their paper showcased nine traditional varieties they collected from the municipalities of Languyan and Tandubas. The accession names of these traditional rice seeds were Jarnang, Zambales, Putan Pikpikan, Katsubing, Landawan, Putan Itum, Jalnang, Putan, and Balitan with their DNA analyzed and specific traits detected using molecular markers.
Significantly with these accomplishments, Abdul said the farmers in the province are now at ease and complacent as their primary traditional rice varieties are now secured and stored at the PhilRice genebank and these seeds will be preserved for more than 80 years. The farmers can request for certain quantities anytime they need to plant and reproduce as these seeds were already purified and their viability and germination were further increased.
“The characterized rice varieties, stipulated in the poster, have been found healthy and sumptuous compared with the commercial rice”, Abdul affirmed. In addition, these rice seeds have cultural values as they are usually served during “PAG-MMBOH”, an important ritual in Tabawan Island.
With the theme “Embracing and Institutionalizing the 4th Agricultural Revolution in the Digital Age”, the congress was attended by more than 800 agriculturists from across the country with the officers of the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA) and Board of Trustees.