Published by Mr. Jomar Mosende 2024-03-08
Farmer participants were interviewed on their practices from field preparation to post-harvest processes in Municipality of Quezon, Luna, Cabatuan, and Santiago, Isabela. The PHI-CSPM team also involves the DA-RCPC2, municipal agriculturists and six enumerators from Isabela to help in interviewing the rice farmers.The team had used a digital tool named Open Data Kit Collect (ODK Collect) in collecting the data and for feasible transmission to the server. Four hundred (400) participants were randomly selected from RSBSA and interviewed. It was observed that there was a large percent of women participation in rice production particularly in decision making, transplanting and replanting of rice.The team had also used printed images on the different pests, diseases and natural enemies, however only few were aware of the biological control agents that can be utilized in the field.Farmers who have used Trichoderma harzianum had significant yield as it hastens their control on weed emergence. Farmers were grateful on the additional increase of prices in their harvests. They have also raised their problems particularly on high production costs and the abrupt changes in climate and cropping season. This also led to the alteration of different pests in their habitat and adaptation. They stated that their major concern was the infestations of brown planthopper and stemborer, leaving them a great loss in yield and higher costs of pesticides.Farmers who have attended farmer field school had more knowledge in the integrated pest management and best agricultural practices. Most of them were interested to attend farmer field school and gain more knowledge particularly in the use of cost reducing technologies and application of BCAs.The activity ended up with validating the data gathered and checking for some lapses or missing details. The team called the participants through a phone call for further verification.
