Yap, Japanese ambassador to speak at Cebu conference

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap will keynote the 6th International Rice-Duck Conference which will be attended by more than 150 organic farmers from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura will also deliver a message during the conference, to be held at the University of San Carlos, Talamban Campus from February 23 to 27.

The event is organized by the Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation for National Development (PARFUND) in cooperation with Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), PhilRice and the University of San Carlos (USC).

In an effort to increase rice production without resorting to the use of chemical commercial pesticides and fertilizers, the local government unit of Trento, Agusan del Sur has adopted the Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System.

The Agusan Sur provincial government adopted the technology after seeing the success of the program which was implemented through the initiative of Trento Mayor Irenea Hitgano.

Hitgano learned about the technology from Apollo Pacamalan, a BS Agriculture Major in Agronomy graduate of Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro.

Pacamalan is the technology’s foremost proponent in Mindanao.

Hitgano set aside at least 16 hectares of her own rice farms as demonstration farms. These were tilled by farmers who were already into organic farming.

Pacamalan and Hitgano are among those who will be participating in the 6th International Rice-Duck Conference in Cebu. — PR/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)