By KIMBERLY S. MIGUEL

Extension Directorate Correspondent

Ninety farmers from Barangay Quiling Sur in the City of Batac are expecting higher rice yield this coming season as they undergone rice pre-dispersal training in the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) last July 10 in order to equip them the proper method to handle high quality rice seedlings and improve their palay harvest.

These farmers are beneficiaries of the MMSU’s Coordinated Agribusiness, Research and Extension Strategies on Technology Promotion (CARES) Phase I Project. 

The CARES is a newly-established development program of MMSU that involved technology promotions, utilization, and transfer of modern farm technologies to farmers for increased productivity.

“The activity is an active step of the university’s CARES project in sustaining the promotion of its science and technology-based rice production activities while establishing an adhesive link with its farmers-cooperators,” said Engr. Michael Duldulao, in-charge of CARES project.

“It also aimed to provide the farmer-cooperators an overall picture on how to increase their rice yield at lower production cost,” he added.

The pre-dispersal training presented the overview and monitoring of MMSU CARES project, the project’s yield performance last year, updates on rice production technologies suited on the lowlands like those in Ilocos Norte, and how to avail of the government’s crop insurance program.

Aside from Duldulao, resource persons in the activity were Dr. Sherlyn Nicolas, chief for MMSU’s monitoring and evaluation unit; Dr. Sosima Demandante, chief for technology demonstration; Mr. Raymond Rahon, in-charge of Seednet Production Project; and Ms. Tricia Cabuyadao, a representative from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked the farmers for cooperating with the university for the CARES project, assuring that the university will continue to assist them in increasing their productivity through modern farming practices. 

In just one year after its implementation, the MMSU-CARES produced 26,621 kilos of fresh palay from 88 farmers, an impressive production debut to help sustain Ilocos Norte’s sufficiency in rice.

This acquired share was translated into a milling recovery of 320 bags of rice that amounted to PHP560,000.

Palay shares of the university come from the four clusters of farmers who are planting four high-yielding rice varieties -- PSB Rc 82, PSB Rc 18, NSIC Rc 214, and NSIC Rc 358. (StratCom)