SMART RICE AGRICULTURE SOON TO HIT THE AIRWAVES IN CARAGA REGION

By Rhea C. Abao

The Department of Agriculture (DA)- Caraga together with the DAAgricultural Training Institute-13 and DAPhilippine Rice Research Institute-Agusan gears up for the implementation of the Unified School-on-theAir Program on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) in the region through a weeklong orientation with LGU partners regionwide.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s Eight Paradigms enunciated rural transformation, foremost of which is the modernization and competitiveness of the Philippine Agriculture through the use of cuttingedge technologies.

In line with this is the implementation of a radiobased distance learning program on modern rice agriculture with a targeted reach of 3,000 farmers in municipalities and cities with average yields of less than 4t/ha in the region. Tapping radio as a medium is a strategic and creative solution of the Department to the massive information and educational needs of farmers. Radio also amplifies the limited reach of agricultural extension workers and stands as a practical platform during a pandemic such as COVID-19.

DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said that the context of Smart Rice Agriculture revolves around climate change adaptation and mitigation at the same time addressing national food security. “The expected outcome of SOA-SRA is the widespread awareness and understanding of modern, climate-smart rice agriculture technologies with corresponding support services, increasing the productivity and income of rice farmers,” Monteagudo said.

In coordination with the Local Government Units, SOA-SRA is now accepting farmer-enrollees who have registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). Other interested farmers who have not registered in the RSBSA or have not availed of any of the Government’s assistance are encouraged to participate in the SOASRA program.

SOA-SRA will be airing on May-August 2021 in the local radio stations in the Caraga region. Rice farmers may coordinate with their respective LGUs for enrollment. (DA-Caraga RAFIS/PIA Caraga)