I made a 12-hour trip to Taraka, Lanao del Sur yesterday to introduce the team leaders of the rice farmers from my hometown, M’lang, who will share new rice farming technology and how to operate farm equipment under a field mentoring program called “Salam Brotherhood Farming.”
Joining me in the trip yesterday were the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Northern Mindanao staff led by Director Olie Degala and Wilson Mabale, MinDA rice industry consultant Nathanael Fabila and the Salam Brotherhood mentor-leaders.
Taraka Vice Mayor Odin Sumagayan, the leaders of the six clusters of farmer groups and their members who will be beneficiaries of the Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) welcomed and thanked the MinDA group and the mentor-leaders.
It was agreed yesterday that 20 expert rice farmers from my hometown will be engaged in the “Salam Brotherhood Farming” mentoring program and will stay in Taraka for at least two months.
The mentors will help local farmers develop and plant rice in an initial area of 200 hectares which would be planted with two premium rice hybrid varieties – US 88 of Seedworks Philippines and Kimbee Hybrid of Ramgo Seeds International.
The mentors will actually work the field with their local partners for an actual demonstration of modern rice farming, including the operation of equipment such as rice tractors with rotavators, mechanical tranplanters and rice harvesters.
The mentoring program is part of the development program for the rice industry of Taraka following the decision of Mayor Nashiba Sumagayan and Vice Mayor Odin Sumagayan to invest in six units of Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems to serve an estimated 700-hectares of fertile ricefields.
The “Salam Brotherhood Farming” which I personally designed when I was Governor of North Cotabato 20 years ago aims to transfer technology in the field and at the same time foster closer relations between Muslim and Christian farmers.
Next week, the “Salam Brotherhood Farming” mentors will pitch camp in Taraka and start working with local farmers in transforming the vast ricefields near Lake Lanao into modern and more productive rice farms.
#MentoringInTheFields!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Photos by Kath Bahinting, MinDA OC)
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