BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
DIFFUN, Quirino (December 31)—To ensure food security amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) gave more than P2.9 million to Quirino State University (QSU) to boost its vermicast and vermicompost research and production.
Elizabeth Carig, QSU vice president for Academic and Research and project leader, said her school’s facilities in its Diffun and Maddela campuses had developed various combinations of materials to produce substrate for vermicast/vermicompost.
She added that the vermicast and vermicompost production was in line with DA interventions to continue agricultural production in the safety of people’s homes through the distribution of seeds and seedlings among farmers, fishermen and consumers.
“Our vermi facilities can produce an aggregate of 150 bags a month. But due to lack of manpower and quality planting materials, the potential of the facility is not maximized,” Carig said, noting that there was a growing need to overcome these problems to effectively support programs that ensure food security.
With this, she said the QSU submitted a project proposal called “Support to Mass Production of Vermicast/Vermicompost in the Province of Quirino” to sustain the efforts.
“This was approved with a grant from the…Bureau of Agricultural Research [worth] P2.99 million,” Carig said, adding that the project would be implemented from July until June 2021.
The project aims to develop and improve soil amendment technologies for vegetables and fruits and geared towards the improvement of existing vermi facilities to increase production and also promote the utilization of vermicast and vermicompost among vegetable farmers.
“With this project, we expect to build the capacity and awareness of local farmers on the use and importance of vermicast and vermicompost,” Carig said.
The QSU is also establishing two demonstration farms to showcase the technology for both backyard and container gardening.
“Once established, we will be conducting field days to show the positive impacts of vermicast and vermicompst to plant growth and yield,” Carig said.
While the project is ongoing, the QSU is also developing information, education and communication materials to be distributed to farmers to supplement trainings.
“We are targeting two community organizations or associations as technology adopters and will be given technical assistance on vermicast and vermicompost production,” Carig said, adding that transitional strategies will be identified and implemented to sustain production.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with the DA-Regional Field Office 2 (Cagayan Valley) and the Quirino Experiment Station (QES).
Through the leadership of QSU President Hermenegildo Samoy Jr., the agricultural university has become an active partner of the DA for the “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Laban sa Covid-19” program.
The QSU has also launched the Plant, Plant, Plant program in two select villages in the province.