For the first time in the region, a field day on Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) showcasing the Off-Season Onion Production and Enterprise Development in Rice-based Areas was successfully conducted on Feb. 5, at barangay Banganan, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.
The said project was funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) in partnership with DA-Regional Field Office 02 through Research Division, Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya and Local Government Unit of Aritao. This initiative has benefitted five barangays in Aritao namely Cutar, Darapidap, Boni North, Poblacion and Banganan, involving more than 20 farmer cooperators and adoptors.
CPAR is a location-specific research and extension activity that deals with improved farming systems technologies within a province or municipality. Also, it provides farm inputs in the form of planting materials and fertilizers, and in turn, the farmers will provide the labor component of the project and set aside a land area for use as counterpart.
Meanwhile, Mr. Celestino Batallones, a farmer cooperator expressed his gratitude to DA-RFO 02 and DA-BAR for financing his onion project while sharing the technology at the same time. Also he challenged his fellow farmers to be farmer researchers in order to expand their knowledge and not just to rely on government platforms.
“Bilang farmer na gustong matuto pa, hinihikayat ko ang mga kapwa ko magsasaka na maging researchers din dahil para po sa ikagiginhawa natin ito at para sa ikagaganda ng ating mga tanim. Huwag lamang tayo magdepende sa mga programang nakahain sa atin bagkus tulungan din natin ang ating mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagtuklas din sa mga gusto nating mangyari.” Batallones said.
Moreover, OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Dr. Roberto Busania urged the farmers to use the technology to improve their production and profit.
“Though we need to think of ways to be competitive in the global market, we also need to harness our own local brands,”Dr. Busania added.
During the closing program, OIC-Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Rose Mary Aquino said that CPAR is vital in reaching out to target areas by providing agri-related information to farmers.
“This is the reason why we work hard to assist you in increasing your productivity by providing you the necessary services and appropriate technologies,” RTD Aquino said.
Meanwhile, RTD Aquino recommended to conduct a research focusing on onion powder processing in order to minimize farm losses and to provide additional source of income as well. (With reports from Barby Lagajet)