MODERN UPLAND RICE FARMING IN MINDANAO TRIBAL DOMAINS

A demonstration farm in modern upland rice farming using highyielding hybrid seeds and Israel-developed pressurized irrigation and fertigation system was launched on Wednesday in a tribal ancestral domain in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

The tribal leaders of the Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabulagan Agricultural Cooperative (BUKTAMACO) and officials of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement which signals the start of a technology transfer program on upland rice farming and the planting of vegetables.

Lawyer Burt Estrada, a Tagoloanon tribal chieftain and now president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, signed on behalf of BUKTAMACO.

The signing came after a tribal ritual which was presided by tribal leaders which was then followed by a ceremonial planting of vegetable seeds donated by MinDA’s private sector partner, Seedworks Philippines.

BUKTAMACO, which also spearheads the planting of Giant Bamboo in its vast ancestral domain in Barangay 1, Malaybalay City, is one of the most active tribal groups pushing for agricultural development in the tribal areas.

The Upland Hybrid Rice Farming Demonstration Area in Barangay 1 is one of the first 11 sites selected by MinDA which will be developed in a virtual field school where tribal farmers will learn new technology.

With vast idle lands in Mindanao, MinDA has partnered with PhilRice, Seedworks, the local governments and farmers groups to introduce modern upland rice farming to address poverty and boost the region’s food production.

The model farms will showcase the use of a new hybrid rice variety, TH 82, which could be planted through dry seeding in upland areas.

Previous trials of TH 82 conducted in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces when I was Secretary of Agriculture produced harvests of between 9 to 10 metric tons per hectare.

While areas where rice farmers have access to irrigation and implemented modern technology harvest as much as 14 to 16 metric tons, the national average yield per hectare is only about 4-metric tons because of inferior quality seeds and the lack of access to modern methods.

By introducing upland rice farming in the vast idle lands, MinDA hopes to ensure food sufficiency and address poverty in the rural areas.

NATIONAL NEWS