FARMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN SSMUSTAPHA YIELD MORE IN RICE, RECEIVE COMBINE HARVESTER
The seventh rice harvest festival was carried out by the MAFAR in Pikeg, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, today (September 25) which featured the highest yield recorded in the village of 7.65 tons per hectare based on the crop cut conducted by the research associates of the BARMMIARC and data presented by Tong A. Abas, Regional Rice and Seed Focal Person.
The ceremonial harvesting was led by Minister Dr Mohammad S. Yacob with MAFAR-Maguindanao Abdulnasser K. Badawi, MAFAR-Maguindanao Operations Chief Dr Ronjamin M. Maulana, PSA-Maguindanao Provincial Statistics Officer Engr. Akan Tula, and the farmer-participants.
Focal Person Abas informed the group that the varieties of rice planted in the areas were NSIC Rc222, NSIC Rc440, and NSIC Rc438, which are all high yielding.
He reminded the farmers that what the ministry is campaigning through the demo farms, are for them to practice synchronous planting, use high-yielding rice varieties, practice transplanting method to reduce seed requirement, Nitrogen-based fertilization, farm clustering, and mechanization.
A unit of multipurpose combine harvester worth Php1.6 million was also awarded by Minister Yacob to the three cooperatives namely Al-Ittihad Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Marketing Cooperative, Mameso Farmers Marketing Cooperative, and Al-Asabat Farmers Producers Cooperative based in Pikeg, and Barangay Bagong and Bialong Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
Before awarding the farm equipment, Minister Yacob signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the cooperatives’ Chairmen and Representative Ali Dikay Lamudzag, Abdulkarim Sinumagad, and Abdullah E. Ahmad.
The MoA stipulates the commitments and responsibilities of the MAFAR and the farmers’ organizations in sustaining the use and productivity of the farm machinery.
These include extending mechanization services to farmers, farmers’ cooperatives and associations in reaping, threshing, and sacking their palay produce pursuant to the regulations set by the managing cooperatives.
Minister Yacob said the farmers had also received 1,000 bags of certified rice seeds, which they planted and they managed well following the introdused technologies resulting to their very high production.
He stressed that the selection of the beneficiaries passed through different processes which included the validation of their readiness and their areas for planting to ensure the proper implementation of the program and to make sure that it will really benefit the farmers making them more productive and profitable.
The MAFAR Chief said the activity was geared towards the gradual attainment of food security in the Bangsamoro Region by bringing the assistance and services of the BARMM government directly to the communities.
Hon. Akmad D. Ulilisen, Barangay Chairman of Pikeg, welcomed all the participants and officials and confirmed that they have felt the presence and assistance of the BARMM government thereby making them very thankful.
Farmer Zacaria Kiban inquired on how they are supposed to manage and go about with the operations of the harvester and was properly addressed and explained by Minister Yacob and Engr. Ismail A. Guiamel, Assistant to the Minister for Operations during the open forum facilitated by BARMMIARC Center Manager Abdul Nasseef S. Ulong and Assistant Center Manager Baharen A. Piang.
The harvest festival was also attended by Omar Bayao, Representative of CCCH-MILF Chairman Butch Malang, Provincial Fishery Officer Datun M. Nur, and personnel from the media.