THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) organized on Sunday, June 28, a harvest festival on a 150-hectare model farm for community-based hybrid rice production in Sapalan village, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
The event, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform in Barmm (Mafar), showcased the importance of technology on hybrid rice productions for the model farm.
The Mafar-Barmm also conducted field visitation and crop-cutting activities, and provided information dissemination on inbred and hybrid rice s
productions.
Dr. Mohammad Yacob, Mafar minister, said they spearheaded the activities to accustom farmers in the region on hybrid rice production and its economic impact.
Yacob said the harvest festival showcased the accomplishment and laborious efforts of farmers and a clear manifestation that rice production, including harvesting and marketing in the region is being closely monitored by the ministry.
Barmm has also turned over farming equipment such as one set of Walk-Behind Transplanter and one set of Rice Thresher machine to further improve the rice productions of Sapalan village, Datu Odin Sinsuat.
Alex Ibrahim, president of Local Farm Technicians-Barmm, said the new technology has enabled them to increase the rice production.
"Before, we can only harvest a maximum of 40 sacks of rice per hectare. Now, we were able to procure almost 115-120 sacks of rice per hectare after we utilized hybrid production. This is such a great help for us farmers especially with our profit," Ibrahim said.
Meanwhile, Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Cheryl Rose Mary Ann Rose Lu-Sinsuat has committed to support the activities of Barmm.
"The LGU (local government unit) of DOS also showcased a MAFARlengke Program yesterday (June 28) in our municipality. We just want to say 'Thank you' as you have chosen our municipality again to introduce this model farm on hybrid rice productions," Sinsuat said. (SunStar Zamboanga)