Talibon ups chances For rice production

BECOMING a food basket in the Central Visayas may not just be a dream after all. Rice production, a key Bohol move to gain its foothold in food security gets a boost with the recent discovery of at least three applications designed to raise yields in rice. The applications tested in Talibon have been touted to be far better than the traditional method of farming techniques. In this northernmost town, using modified rapid composting, dolomite technology and adaptation test on different National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) rice varieties, the technological demonstrations conducted under the supervision of the municipal government showed encouraging results pushing small rice producers to apply the technologies in their farms.

Eleven cultivators who field tested the research studies at barangay San Agustin used their rice areas. The field testing was closely monitored and assisted by Ponciana Cruda, municipal agricultural technologist and her office staff. In the field test, 15 varieties of rice were planted using different applications of organic fertilizer and dolomite technology demonstration. The study aims to help farmers decide on suitable rice varieties in their rice fields. It also encourages farmers to minimize the use of inorganic or commercial fertilizer by using modified rapid composting using rice straws for composting and making organic fertilizer. With the field's acidity more becoming pronounced over the tears, a technology of lowering the acidity using dolomite may help farmers recover the fertility of their farms.

The filed test also allowed interesting farmers to actually visit the farms and see for themselves the results. Cruda introduced the group of farmers coming from the different barangays of the town. Engr. Tito Cañas, chief extension officer of the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (BAPC); Engr. Michael Castillon, Bureau of Soils and Water Management; Engr. Victor Bantol Resident Manager of Philippine Mining and Sinter Corporation (PMSC) dolomite supplier; Engr. Casimiro Bulilan of the Provincial Engineer's Office and Fe Curato, Supervising Agriculturists of Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) attended the events.

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