The Coordinated Agribusiness, Research, and Extension Strategies (CARES) program of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) continues to assist its farmer-cooperators by giving them interest-free farm inputs such as high-yielding registered rice seeds and fertilizers for this year’s rice planting season. 

Aimed to fortify the resiliency of Ilokano farmers in sustaining food for their families, these farm inputs were the improved seedstocks of PSB Rc 82 and NSIC Rc 160 rice seeds, including organic and inorganic fertilizers. 

Prior to the distribution of the inputs, a pre-dispersal training was conducted to ensure that the beneficiaries will be applying the recommended farming practices to their rice crops.

Technical assistance will also be provided throughout the rice season to help them manage their farms more effectively and efficiency. To safeguard the crops against unprecedented calamities, these will also be insured with the Philippine Crop Insurance. 

Recipients of the inputs were members of the five clusters of the farmer-cooperators of MMSU United Irrigators Association that was organized under the MMSU - CARES) Program.  With 88 founding members, the group grew to 90 farmer-cooperators this year. 

Meanwhile, the MMSU CARES Program is a transformative strategy of the University to enhance the utilization and productivity of the university landholdings. The program covers a total of 26 hectares of contiguous farms located in Brgy. Quilling Sur, City of Batac, spanning from the back of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and College of Engineering (COE), and at the northeastern side of the university’s Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall (formerly the Administration Building). 

The pre-dispersal training that was conducted prior to the distribution of the farm inputs was an effective strategy of the university’s Seedstock Dispersal Program. It is a promotional strategy to increase and enhance the knowledge and skills of the beneficiaries in producing rice production with lower production cost but higher yield and income. (StratCom)