FARMERS IN TALAYAN REJOICE IN 22ND PLANTING FESTIVAL CONDUCTED BY THE MAFAR
Famers Moktil Kasim, Kamirin Ambalgan, and Haris Delmo in Talayan, Maguindanao, expressed their joy after topping the planting race that was one of the highlights of the rice planting festival that seemed to be the most organized as observed by the attendees.
Aside from improving their knowledge and practices, the farmers also won cash prizes at Php2000, Php1500, and Php1000, respectively.
Using the high yielding rice variety NSIC Rc222, 12 more farmers actively joined the planting race and all received consolation cash prizes. The activity has become an integral part of the festival that aims to showcase proper transplanting with straight rows and recommended number of seedlings per hill.
The activity was the 22nd festival conducted on August 6, 2020 by the MAFAR in the Bangsamoro Region and was for the 50-ha Model Farm on Inbred Rice Production and 25-ha rice seed production farm in Katibpuan, Talayan, Maguindanao with farmer-cooperator Duri Kasim.
The activity was also highlighted by the ceremonial planting led by Engr. Ismail A. Guiamel, Agricultural Operations Chief, with Tong A. Abas, Regional Rice and Seed Focal Person, Abdulnasseef S. Ulong, BARMMIARC Center Manager, Abdulnasser K. Badawi, MAFAR-Maguindanao Provincial Head, Dr Ronjamin M. Maulana, MAFAR-Maguindanao Operations Chief, Aleon A. Mansol, MAFAR Municipal Officer, and the participative farmer-beneficiaries.
Engr. Guiamel called for unity and camaraderie among the farmers and responsibility over the assistance they received from the ministry which are aimed at improving their productivity and income and ensuring the sufficiency of quality rice seeds for increased production in the province and in the whole BARMM.
Meanwhile, Dr Maulana said, the team might not be able to teach the farmers one by one or individually but through the model farms established, more farmers are served efficiently with technical assistance.
MAFAR-Maguindanao Head Badawi reiterated the call for unity among the farmers as according to him, one’s deficiency shall be augmented by the other.
Finally, Focal Person Abas declared the festival as the most organized and he advised the farmers to share what they learned so that more will be reached and benefited.