AURORA, Isabela – The FDN Integrated Farm, a learning site for agriculture, drew visitors from various agencies and the private sector during the ceremonial harvesting of its rice varieties on March 15 in Barangay Ballesteros here.
This event, which aimed to inspire rice farmers across the country to adopt new technologies to increase their productivity, was a personal initiative of Francis D. Nitura, a progressive farm owner whose persistent commitment to agricultural innovation is well-known.
Department of Agriculture officials, led by Assistant Secretary Noel Padre and OIC DA 2 Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino, visited the Long Ping 534 hybrid rice demo farm at FDN Farm and conducted a ceremonial harvesting of the rice variety.
Nitura expressed his optimism for a bountiful rice crop through technology and mechanization, which would raise the produce’s output and boost farmers’ incomes.
“We continue to inspire everybody. Farmers who would like to learn how to plant using the Long Ping 534 hybrid rice type that was used in this project and other rice varieties can visit our integrated farm,” he said.
“The farm is accessible to all individuals, as we provide on-the-job training for universities such as Isabela State University, which uses our farm as a study location on a regular basis, as well as Aurora State College of Technology, among other organizations,” he added.
“After 20 years in the USA, I returned to the country in 2013. Upon seeing the output of my fellow farmers, who were yielding between 100 and 110 cavans per hectare, I knew I had to take action to help increase the yield.
“Throughout the procedure, we apply fertilizer at least eight times, as opposed to only twice. Although it was more expensive than usual, the produce would have produced twice as much as usual, increasing revenue,” Nitura added.
He also mentioned mechanization as a way to reduce labor costs.
“We used organic and inorganic fertilizers, as well as the government’s DA program on balanced fertilization, irrigation through alternate wetting and drying, and the use of microbial inoculants to help increase yield and make rice production environment friendly and sustainable,” Nitura stressed.
DA RFO2’s Aquino acknowledged FDN Integrated Farm for its initiative on new technologies and systems of rice production for farmers to boost their productivity.
Meanwhile, Narra, Palawan Mayor Gerandy Danao visited with his municipal council to see the ceremonial harvesting. He expressed his interest in the farm’s Nikita-bred seed type because its crop yield is equivalent to that of a hybrid, and he plans to bring the variety back to his hometown.
“We definitely will implement this technology; as a farmer, I have firsthand experience with a particular variety of staple rice farmed here,” he remarked, noting that the municipality is the rice granary of Palawan.
The ceremony featured an outstanding array of attendees and esteemed partner organizations, all of whom demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the progress of agriculture.
Notable figures included DA Assistant Secretary Padre; OIC Regional Executive Director Aquino; DOJ Undersecretary Fredderick A. Vida; Mayor Danao of Narra, Palawan and Council; Deputy Executive Director of PhilRice Karen Barroga; Eden Victoria C. Selva, NIA Central Office Department Manager; Yodo Kawase, President, Kubota Philippines; Regional Director Miano of the Department of Tourism; Dr. Ricmar Aquino, ISU President; a group from Ateneo Law; retired officials, justices, fiscals, and academics from different provinces.
FDN Integrated Farm is a TESDA Farm School, an ATI Learning Site for Agriculture, an NIA and CIAM Accredited Learning Site for Agriculture, and a previous recipient of awards from DOLE and NEDA for being a regional winner and national nominee in the Productivity Olympics and Outstanding Volunteer of the Philippines, respectively.