MinDA expands experiment on irrigated upland rice farm
The Mindanao Development Authority advocacy to address rural poverty and improve food production explores the potentials of upland rice farming as it establishes 10 demo areas using Israel’s pressurized irrigation and fertigation technology. With just a measly budget of P500,000 taken from its very limited funds, MinDA will work with Local Government Units, the Philippine Rice Research Institute and a private rice seeds company, US Seedworks for the project. Using the Israeli technology on Pressurized Irrigation and Fertigation, MinDA will introduce modern Upland Rice Farming using Hybrid Seeds and the indigenous upland rice varieties.
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| June 19-25, 2021
The demonstration farms will be about 1,000 square meters each and will be established in the traditional rice farming areas of Cenrtral Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga, Zamboanga Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Each of the demonstration farm will have a Pressurized Irrigation and Fertigation Facility which will provide water and fertilization in a scientifically progammed schedule. Asst. Secretary for the BARMM Dr. Sailila Abdula, former executive director of PhilRice and now head of the Midsayap Field Office, will lead
the technical team which will supervise the demonstration farms. The estimated yield, cost and income will also be included in the study to be conducted by both PhilRice and the MinDA technical team. US Seedworks whose hybrid upland rice seeds, Tatag TH 82, had been selected to be used in the demo farm had committed its full support to the project by donating seeds and inputs. It will also sponsor the installation of one unit of Pressurized Irrigation and Fertigation in one of the demonstration areas. The planting in the Caraga INFOCUS
