The municipality of Tabontabon, Leyte hosted a crowd estimate of nearly a thousand as farmers, Agricultural Extension Workers coming from all over the region, DA officials and guests gathered on October 18-19, 2022 to witness the culmination and results of the 1 st BEST FARM Technology Demonstration Derby and Farmers Field Day 2022.

 

This is a 20-hectare compact technology demonstration for the best high yielding rice varieties, hence, consolidating and showcasing all the BEST technological innovations and extension modalities championed by the different partners. This is jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 08 (DA-RFO-08), attached agencies, the local government unit (LGU) of Tabontabon, Leyte, private organic fertilizers and hybrid rice seed companies.

 

In her Inspirational Message, DA RFO 08 Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez commended the efforts of Tabontabon, Leyte Mayor Hon. Efren Redoña for making agriculture among his administration’s priority. At the same time, she also Highlighted on the dual annual celebration of the International Rural Women’s Day on October 15, 2022, and the World Food Day on October 16, 2022 with the theme: “Leave no one behind” as very relevant nowadays as the world starts to recover from the pandemic and live on our lives as normally as possible. She said that this technodemo manifests how serious the government is to promote the most modern, scientific ways of rice farming, at lower costs but with higher production levels.

 

National Rice Seedboard Board of Director Dr. Frisco Malabanan cited the Eastern Visayas region as the first to implement the BEST Farm technodemo in the country. He also shared practical tips to the rice farmers , AEWs, as per his long years of experience in the government, in the industry and as a farmer. He also praised the leadership of Tabontabon Mayor Redoña in his efforts to ensure the agricultural development of the town and to improve the lives of his farmers and other constituents. Like DA RED Enriquez, he also commended the farmers for their efforts to feed not only themselves, their families and their respective communities, but also to help food production in the country.

 

The Balanced Fertilization Strategies-Field Advisories, Mentoring and Partnership Project, dubbed as BEST Farm & Farmer Project, presents a wholistic approach to promote BFS in Eastern Visayas and gives farmers an opportunity to choose the BEST BFS Options that the BEST FARMER would likely exhibit and ultimately make them one of the BEST FARMS in the region.

 

Gracing the occasion were: DA RFO 08 Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, Regional Technical Director Dr. Elvira C. Torres, Director Frisco Malabanan, BOD, National Rice Seedboard, Municipal Mayor Edwin of Tabontabon, Leyte and the Provincial and Municipal Agriculture officials throughout the region. ###