SAN MATEO, Isabela—The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) here is introducing another project, dubbed as Palayamanyon, to make farmers in its area become agripreneur.
Perry Irish Duran, PhilRice Isabela science specialist, said the Palayamanyon, copied from palay (rice), yaman (wealth) and nayon (community), envisions a holistic, inclusive and sustainable growth in rice-based communities such as Isabela.
The project was launched recently at PhilRice-Isabela research station attended by agriculture officials.
Duran said to address the problem in rice productivity, the project aims to change the mind-set of farmers, from being mere rice produces to agripreneurs.
Andres dela Cruz, PhilRice-Isabela research and development coordinator, said they had started to develop a model farm community adopting the Palayamanyon Plus system in Barangay San Juan, Quirino, Isabela, last year to be a model farm to be visited by farmers.
De la Cruz said the project is a rice-based enterprise, with the principle of diversification (maximum use of farm space), intensification (maximum use of time) and integration (farm resource and zero-waste management).
He said aside from growing rice, various rice-based enterprises, such as mushroom and vermiculture production, were being introduced and developed to boost the income of rice farmers in the area.
De la Cruz added that another community pilot site will be established in Cab.14-16, City of Ilagan, Isabela, in the future.
He said the project was there to ensure that the current rice technologies would be translated into better income for the farmers.
“The transformation will only be possible through concerted effort from various stakeholders, aside from agriculture-related offices/agencies, such as Department of Trade and Industry [DTI], Technical Education and Skills Development Authority [Tesda], non-governmental organization and farmers’ cooperative,” Duran said.