Farm growers to converge in 2nd Farmers Congress today
Hundreds of farmers throughout the province of Iloilo will converge today (December 15) in the 2nd Farmers Congress with theme "Pagtuon Upod sang Mangunguma Agud Mapadamo Ang Ginansya" at the Iloilo Sports Complex Covered Gym, Magsaysay Village, La Paz, Iloilo City.
Research and Institutional Development (RAID) Division Chief Elias V. Sandig, Jr. of the Provincial Agriculture's Office (PAO) said this is an annual activity of the Iloilo Provincial P4MP Federation of Farmers Association, Inc. which encourages farmers to attend provincial activities like this and to promote sustainable, ecologically friendly and healthy environment. (P4MP stands for Pambansang Mannalon, Magbabaul, Mag-uuma at Magsasaka ng Pilipinas).
He said the Federation is also involved in technology demonstration implemented by the RAID Division of Provincial Agriculture's Office, which include such current technologies under investigation as the seeding rates of Wet-Seeded Rice, System of Rice Intensification, Mushroom Culture and Natural Farming System.
Sandig said this activity is a venue where farmers share their knowledge and gain new technologies with the interaction with their municipal and provincial chief executives and partners from municipal, provincial and national agricultural offices.
He added experts from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Society Agri Ventures Enterprises (SAVE) will give technology update on rice while farmers-researchers from Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Calinog, San Miguel and San Joaquin will share their experiences in cost reduction technologies.
Sandig said the province also bats for organic farming, which is being supported by farmers in Iloilo as one of the main thrusts for sustainable agriculture.
He said employing organic farming methods will lead to higher profits because of lower production costs because chemical inputs are substituted by locally available and cheaper organic inputs.
Sandig said organic farming is environment-friendly, as well.
He also expressed his gratitude to Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. in the later's support in pushing the province to be No.1 rice-producing province in the country.
Governor Tupas will also award Outstanding Performers for calendar year 2006 such as Outstanding Municipal Federation of Farmers, Outstanding Barangay Farmers Association, Outstanding Rice Farmers and Outstanding Vegetable Farmer.
Invited speakers are DA-RFU Dir. Jindra Linda Demetrio to talk about DA Programs and Thrusts; ATI-6 Center Director Remelyn R. Recoter, Updates on Training of RBOs; Negros-PhilRice Consultant Samuel P. Liboon, New Rice Varieties and INM Approaches; SAVE's John Jolroy Calibang, Effects of Human WSG and Nitrofert on the Yield of Corn; WVSU RDPC Coordinator Jenny C. Calabio, Effect of Glyphosate on Rolling Corn Lands and Mr. Sandig, Farmers Tested Technologies.
Sandig said the Congress is expected to gather more than 500 farmers all over the province. This will also be participated in by municipal agriculturists, municipal FA coordinators, RAID staff, provincial agriculturist and PAO division chiefs, heads of agri-related officers and NGOs.
There are about 20,000 P4MP members in the province now.
(Capitol News)