Farmers and BS Agriculture students of MMSU joined in the 2019 Farmers Field Day at the Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC) last October 24, an activity to promote and encourage the use climate resilient technologies to the community.

Some 300 participants toured around the 7.5-hectare demonstration area of the school that showcased the use of quality seeds, Bio-N as seed inoculant, carrageenan plant growth regulator (CPGR) as foliar fertilizer, organic fertilizers, balanced use of inorganic fertilizer, and improved cultural management practices. 

Organized by the project on Sustaining Crop Productivity in Climate Vulnerable Areas in Ilocos Norte through Science and Technology Community-Based Farm (STCBF) on Climate Resilient Technologies, the field day aimed to educate the community of the effects of the improved technologies, and presented the testimonies and observations of farmers having first-hand experience on these. 

Highlights of the activity were farm visitations, parade and tasting of rice-based food products, testimonials, and distribution of farm supplies. 

Testimonials on the use of these technologies were expressed by selected farmers from Pasuquin, Marcos, Solsona, Batac, and Vintar in line corn, peanut, and rice productions. These were validated by experts in terms of reducing production costs, and maximizing their yield potential, among other benefits. 

Rice-based food products developed by the students were also lauded by professors from the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) for their unique taste and ingenuity. These are binagkal, cheesy yema rice cake, linapet-suman, rice cookies, maori (patupat), siomai rice, chalabtalfun, and suman-latik.