MABALACAT, Pampanga – Some 200 farmers here have benefited from the “Mobile Teknoklinik” aimed to improve the production of palay.
Provincial Agriculturist Mario Mangliman and The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) joined forces to stage the second seminar for palay farmers at the convention hall of Barangay Dau on Thursday. The PRRI was represented by Senior Rice Research Specialist Celia Abadilla.
Mangiliman said the new technology introduced by the PRRI and their office will improve production of palay by 30 to 40 percent.
He added that they will also cut the cost of production by at least 30 percent with the use of “cheaper but reliable” organic fertilizer.
Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales thanked Mangiliman and the PPRI for assisting their farmers and making them more efficient.
Mangiliman said the farmers had been taught in the proper use of pesticides to prevent the destruction of palay.
“In the old practice, the farmers immediately spray chemicals on their plantation when they see insects. That is not right,” he said. “There are insects that should not be killed because they are friendly to the palay.”
Mangiliman said the PRRI introduced high-breed palay seeds to the farmers and gave some samples to them.
Accompanied by Morales, Mangiliman distributed “organic fertilizers” to farmers.
Abadilla disclosed that the PRRI had visited this town months ago for the launching of the “Mobile Teknoklinik” in Pampanga. She added that they will also visit other towns for the same seminar.
For his part, Morales said his “people are fortunate to avail of such opportunity to have more produce.”
