Korean consultant visits ‘Japonica’ sites in Bohol
One of the projects being implemented by the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Bohol is the seed multiplication of Japonica rice varieties.
It’s an intervention employed by the said agencies to meet the increasing demand of Japonica rice in the province and at the same time, to elevate the lives of our Boholano farmers. However, producing seeds is a fastidious task to do. It requires proper care and maintenance.
It is for this reason that Dr. Sang Bok Lee, rice consultant of KOPIA, conducted a series of site visitations to the different project sites in Bohol which started last October 2-4, 2018. On the first day, October 2, 2018, Dr. Lee visited Brgy. Tugas, Candijay, Bohol where he met the farm cooperator Crispin Castulo who has 2 hectares of rice field planted with Milyang 23.
Dr. Lee noticed the weed established on the site so he gave technical advices to Castulo. In addition to that, he explained how weeds can affect the growth and yield as well as the purity of Japonica seeds if weeds are not properly managed.
On the second day, Dr. Lee visited two project sites. One is in Brgy. Montesuerte, Carmen, Bohol and the other is in BISU-Bilar Campus. Ranulfo Tagsip,Farm Cooperator in Carmen welcomed Dr.Lee and his team with good news that his Japonica Rice has recovered from the severe drought it has experienced 2 months ago. His 0.7 hectare piece of land was planted with Milyang 23 and is now on its booting/ heading stage.
Dr. Lee recommended Tagsip to employ roguing (removal of off type variety). After visiting Carmen site, Dr. Lee went directly to BISU-Bilar Campus to visit the 3-hectare rice field planted with Milyang 23. Just like his observation in Carmen, the area needs to be rogued in order to maintain its high percentage of purity.
On the last day, October 4, 2018, Dr. Lee went to Talibon and visited the 0.5-hectare of Lito Oroyan. Oroyan’s area is now o its booting stage and is the best time to employ roguing, according to Dr. Lee.
In general, Dr. Lee emphasized to the farm cooperators that seed multiplication for regeneration purposes is such a demanding process. However, if practiced in the right way economic benefits to the farmers because Japonica rice are way more expensive than the typical Indica varieties. Dr. Lee re assured the farm coopertaors that KOPIA and oPA is more than willing to offer any technical assistance if they need it. (Atoy Cosap)
