DAVAO DEL SUR. As part of gearing the farmers towards diversified farming, the NIA Region XI turned over a newly completed and fully functional Model Farm to Palayan ng Blaan Communal Irrigation Association, Inc. in New Cabasagan, Matanao, Davao del Sur through a ceremony on July 27, 2022.
The model farm with a total project cost of Php1 Million comprised of a 403.90sqm Open Field Farmland, a 202sqm Greenhouse Structure, and installation of Storage Tank, Drip Irrigation, sprinklers, a solar powered pump and solar panel to which farmers cultivate high-valued crops such as strawberry, lettuce, and tomato.
Irrigators Association (IA) President Antonio R. Atamosa accepted the operation and maintenance of the model farm on behalf of the 184 members of the association who have started to adopt the techniques and technologies of the new crops through training and technical supervision of an Agronomist for one cropping season.
NIA XI Regional Manager Jimmy L. Apostol led the turnover ceremony along with Davao del Sur Irrigation Management Office (IMO) Division Manager Dexter F. Tinapay.
Prior to the turnover ceremony, attendees made a quick trip to the model farm to survey the main structures and the growth of young plants.
While emphasizing the IA’s new roles and responsibilities, RM Apostol also assured support and guidance to the farmers as the IA works to flourish the farm so they will reap not only the potential increase in incomes brought by diversified farming but to contribute to the food self-sufficiency and food security of their community. Engr. Tinapay likewise highlighted the sustainability of the model farm which now largely relies on the cooperation and involvement of the IA members and officers.
The model farm- which is an avenue to learn new agricultural techniques and technologies to add for the livelihood of farmers, and a site for demonstration for other farmers and IAs to learn from- is part of the winnings of Palayan ng Blaan Communal Irrigation Association, Inc. as being one of NIA’s top five in the annual nationwide search for the Most Outstanding IA in the Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) category in 2020.
To fully capacitate the IA for the model farm, NIA XI enlists them under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program (EPAHP), a convergence of different government agencies, academe, and the LGU that helps specific farmers’ groups in their livelihood.
Through EPAHP, farmer-beneficiaries are provided with various technical training and capacity building, financial assistance, marketing links, and agreements that will help them from the production up to securing marketing channels of their harvests.
NIA XI so far has a total of five top performing IAs that have been granted with model farms. # (Engr. JIMMY L. APOSTOL, Regional Manager A, NIA XI Regional Office)
