Wednesday, September 17, 2008 DA launches farmer's field day By Annabelle L. Ricalde
THE Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (Nomiarc) launches the 15th Annual Farmer's Field Day and Technology Forum in Dalwangan, Malabalay City, Bukidnon on September 16 to 18 this year.
With its theme, "Securing Food and Energy Through Crop Diversification," Nomiarc will showcase various and best technologies for farmers as this year's farmer's field day will highlight food crops, but also crops with energy source contents such as sorghum, jathropa, sugarcane and cassava in support to the bio-fuel and bio-ethanol production.
Nomiarc, which is under the Department of Agriculture (DA), is tasked to conduct basic functions of research that will give farmers latest scientific achievements and allow them to exchange their knowledge with the scientific community primarily aimed at ensuring safe, affordable and nutritious foods to address malnutrition problem.
Juanita Salvani, Nomiarc's Center chief, said that not only farmers would benefit from the new technologies but also investors and stakeholders as well.
Featured in this year's farmer's field day are technology demonstration on Corn-Livestock-Fish Integration Farming System; technology demonstration on different yellow corn hybrids; timing and rates of foliar K application in hybrid rice production system; adaptability trial of promising rice inbred; technology demonstration on diversified high valued vegetable production; promotion and demonstration on the different indigenous vegetables and several others.
"But we can't force the farmers to apply this technologies but at least they have the option and use some of this," Salvani said.
Nomiarc is now pushing the comeback of organic agriculture since farmers, over the years, have been using synthetic fertilizers.
Salvani said the center is now in the transition period of their advocacy, especially now that farmers will be having a hard time abandoning the use of synthetic fertilizers.
