Fun-filled farmers’ field day and forum

One bright, summer day in San Jacinto, Pangasinan Province, Philippines, farmers and scientists gathered enthusiastically for a farmers’ field day and forum on rice-growing technologies. About 148 farmers, local government staff, extension specialists, and municipal agriculturists from five towns came on 9 March, along with 9 guests from the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the Department of Agriculture (DA). The event was made possible through partnership among the local government unit of Barangay Lobong, San Jacinto; PhilRice; and the International Rice Research Institute through the IRRC.

Participants first visited the rice field of farmer Francisco Aquino, a farmer-partner who began using site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) in November 2006. After a ceremonial harvesting
of his crops, a lively forum between farmers and experts began. The experts on the panel were Engr. Aurora Corales and Mr. Rolando San Gabriel of PhilRice, municipal agriculture officer Florentino Batin, DA regional field unit representative Wilfredo Pallaya, and Mr. Joel Janiya, Dr. Ruben Lampayan, and Dr. Grant Singleton of the IRRC.

Farmer-partner Francisco Aquino shares his experiences with SSNM. Last year, he harvested 4.4 tons from his 1-hectare field using traditional practices. This year, he harvested 4.8 tons using SSNM. He is now excited to try the alternate wetting and drying technology.

Questions varied from fighting leaf blight disease (the yellowing and wilting of leaves and seedlings) to the inevitable global warming concern. Regarding the attack of tungro, a viral disease caused by green and zigzag leafhoppers, Mr. Janiya advised farmers to practice synchronous planting, which means planting areas within 2 weeks of each other. Dr. Lampayan, on the question of how much fertilizer is needed and when to apply it, advocated use of the leaf color chart and SSNM as a guide to help farmers makefertilizer recommendations for their own fields. When asked how to manage their rat problems, Dr. Singleton said that the trap barrier system is only one tool that is ideal for severe infestations, and he encouraged the whole community to participate. He emphasized further that farmers should first learn the rat’s breeding system and its relationship with its environment, to know when and how to manage its population.

Dr. Ruben Lampayan answers some farmers' questions. Also part of the panel were Dr. Grant Singleton (extreme left), Engr. Aurora Corales, and Mr. Joel Janiya (partly hidden).

Engr. Corales urged farmers to “shop” for ideas on technologies during events such as this, and to cooperate and help each other. “When you do things together, hand in hand, no one will stumble,” she said.
As the forum came to a close near noon, it was clear that, based on the turnout of participants and the spirited discussion among them, the farmers in Pangasinan were receptive and eager for effective rice-growing technologies and venues such as this to learn them from.

Text and photos by Trina
Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

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