Iguig, Cagayan — Ms. Belly Duruin, President of White Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Alcala, aptly shared, “Dati, kalabaw ang katuwang ko. Ngayon, may cellphone na akong kasama sa pagbubungkal. Nakakagulat, pero nakakatuwa. At dahil sa Champouradu, may pagbebentahan na kami ng white corn.”
Ms. Duruin is one of the numerous farmers who went to the Southern Cagayan Research Center yesterday, July 10, 2025, to witness the Launching of DA RFO 02’s Regional Digital Agriculture Initiatives, Nutrition Month Celebration, and the Launching of the CHAMPouradu— a regional food innovation featuring glutinous white corn, glutinous rice, protein rich peanut – tablea and butter and carabao’s milk.
With the theme “Digital Transformation: Passkey to Agriculture Ease-of-Doing Business in the Valley”, the event drew farmers and fisherfolk, researchers, students, local officials, line agencies and innovators alike to visit the various exhibits prepared by DA RFO 02.
- DA DOS Regional Government Analytics
- RSBSA Finder
- CSO Accreditation
- Agro Climatic Advisory Portal (ACAP)
- Digital Soil Fertility Maps
- AGRIDOM for Drone Service of Direct Seeding and Mapping
- Farmers and Fisherfolks Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS)
- Image-based Pest Diagnosis for Enhanced Agriculture (IDEA) in Region 02 Project Concept
In line with the celebration of Nutrition Month, the event also highlighted the importance of healthy, locally-sourced food through free food tasting booths such as the newly launched CHAMPouradu and DA SCRC’s Buck Coffee – a product initiative to support locally sourced robusta coffee, rice-based coffee, corn-based creamer and goat’s milk.
The opening program was graced by Engr. Girme Bayucan, PSA Regional Office 2 OIC Director and Ms. Maria Gisela M. Lonzaga, Secretary, National Nutrition Council Region II as well as representatives from various national government agencies.
In line with the new initiative of Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel in of creating an open communication directly from the farmers, Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino also launched “Kape at Agrikwentuhan”. Imitating the Secretary’s Farmer’s Ugnayan, Dir. Aquino together with her regional technical directors and division chiefs sat down and briefly discussed suggestions issues and concerns from farmer attendees, including youth and women. They also shared personal testimonials of the impact of the interventions they have received from the agency.
As another event highlight, all farmer attendees brought home their chosen Agri-freebies such as 5 in 1 pack of assorted vegetable seeds, 10 pcs of assorted vegetable seedlings, a 250 ml insecticide or 2 pcs of fruit bearing trees.
As DA-RFO 2 Regional Executive Director Dr. Rose Mary G. Aquino said in her keynote speech, “The honorees today are the farmers and fisherfolk, to whom the Regional Digital Agriculture are dedicated, as we improve our services. Ang tunay na kaunlaran ay hindi lamang sa dami ng ani, kundi sa kalidad ng buhay. At ang susi rito ay ang pagsasama ng agham, kalusugan, at teknolohiya.”
The 3-in-1 celebration stands as a testament of President Bongbong Marcos’ vision to uplift farmers from subsistence to enterprise, anchored in modern technology and committed service.
Via Jhoana M. Bassig
Photos: Erwin Cachero