Agrarian reform communities to benefit from 'aigamo technology'

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform will introduce a new farming technology to its various Agrarian Reform Communities as part of the support service delivery component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

DAR Undersecretary Evelyn Bistoyong said they are willing to give assistance to their farmer-beneficiaries who would like to try the “aigamo technology” or rice-duck farming, a technology in rice cultivation newly introduced to the country from Japan.

Attending the 6th International Rice-Ducks Conference which started yesterday, Bistoyong found that the rice-duck farming is a promising method for increased rice production among farmers.

“We see this as one way we can intervene and assist our farmer-beneficiaries in improving the land we have distributed to them,” Bistoyong said.

Bistoyong also said that DAR has been attracted with the capacity of the method to increase rice yields, at the same time lessen the cost of production.

“We were informed that using the method, the rice yield will increase from 100 bags per hectare to 110 bags per hectare at a cost of P11,000 only per hectare,” Bistoyong said.

She further said that this will greatly help Filipino farmers to earn more and at the same time help the government in alleviating poverty and strengthen food security and sufficiency.

The rice-duck farming was first discovered and developed in Japan by Dr. Takao Furuno, a farmer himself. It is called Aigamo Technology since “aigamo” in Japan means duck(s).

Furuno’s rice-duck farming system combined and developed internal relationship of animals and other species living in common paddy fields in Asia like rice, waterfowls, aquatic weeds, fishes, among others.

The method suggests that ducks be released in the rice field in day time to perform various functions that are helpful in the cultivation. Ducks could function as weed suppressor, pest controller, nutrient supplier, and do full-time plowing and muddying.

The full–time plowing and muddying effect of the ducks reduces the intensity of sunlight in the water which prevents photosynthetic reaction, thus suppressing growth of weeds.

Agriculturists confirmed that the fertilizing ability of the duck manure is at 10 to 20 percent.

Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation and National Development Program director Apollo Pacamalan said that rice-ducks technology does not require the farmers to use insecticide or pesticide, thus reducing the production cost. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)