The Department of Agriculture IV-CALABARZON (DA-4A) conducted a farmers’ field day for the beneficiaries of the outscaling of integrated rice-based farming system project in Maragondon, Cavite.

The project aims to increase rice production and farmers’ income thru use of updated rice production technologies and integrated pest management.

Its main feature is the integration of ducks in the rice farming system which provides additional income to the farmers thru production and selling of fresh eggs and incubation to produce and sell ducklings, on top of their income coming from rice.

According to Asst. Research Division Chief Aida Luistro, aside from additional livelihood, ducks also help in reducing pest incidence particularly of rice black bug and golden apple snails.

Fifty rice farmers from barangays San Miguel B, Bucal 2 and 3, and Garita in Maragondon directly benefited from the project.They received duck shelters, 550 heads of duck, two egg incubators, and farm inputs for their 50 hectares rice field.“Malaking tulong na napasali kami sa proyektong ito.

Kung dati husto ang pagbobomba namin (ng pestisidyo) ngayon halos hindi. Nadagdagan din ang aming kita dahil sa mga itik,” Mr. Jeremias Villanueva, one of the farmer-beneficiaries, said.

The project is led by the DA-4A’s Research Division, funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research, and supported by the DA-4A’s Livestock Program and Regional Crop Protection.