BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
TUMAUINI, Isabela (August 27)—All is not lost for corn farmers after Typhoon Florita.
This is after the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) reintroduced silage-making to corn farmers whose crops are affected by Typhoon Florita.
In tandem with the local government unit of Tumauini, DA-RFO2 through its Isabela Experiment Station conducted a field demonstration on silage making on August 26, 2022, in Barangay Tunggui, one of the many barangays affected by the recent typhoon.
According to Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Rose Mary Aquino, corn silage making had already been practiced in Cagayan Valley.
“Corn harvested for silage is an important feed crop for our livestock. It serves as high-energy forage for dairy cows,” she said.
Aquino emphasized that affected corn plants can be processed into silage and can be stored for months.
She said that another demonstration was also conducted by DA Southern Cagayan Research Center in Santo Nino, Cagayan.
“Kailangang ipakilala natin ulit ito sa ating mga magsasaka at mga lokal na pamahalaan upang makatulong maski paano sa kanilang pagbangon matapos ang Bagyong Florita,” Aquino said.
Meanwhile, former Tumauini Mayor Arnold Bautista said the municipality used to buy corn from their farmers and make them into silage.
“Ipagpapatuloy namin ang pagbili sa halagang dalawang piso kada kilo lalo na ngayon at apektado ang ating mga corn farmers sa bagyo,” he said.
He said that the local government is maintaining a dairy farm which is now slowly expanding through the implementation of a localized livestock dispersal program.
“Kailangan naming ngayon ng maraming silage upang matustusan ang pagkain ng aming mga baka at kambing,” Bautista said. “Taun-taon ay naglalaan kami ng pondo para sa operasyon ng aming dairy farm upang makamit ang aming planong mag-produce ng sarili naming dairy products.”
Bautista, now in-charge of infrastructure development of Tumauini under the leadership of Mayor Venus Bautista, is the brainchild of the establishment of the dairy farm and livestock production in which silage making is very vital.
Since Tumauini is one of the major producers of corn in Isabela, livestock production is also being prioritized.
According to Municipal Agriculturist Noel Baquiran Jr., the local government is awaiting the delivery of 200 heads of cows to augment their present stock.
“Kailangan namin ang maraming pakain kaya ang pagbili sa mga mais ng mga magsasakang apektado sa bagyo ay kailangan,” he said.
The technology demonstrations in Tumauini, Isabela and Santo Nino, Cagayan were attended by barangay officials and farmers.
According to Barangay Captain Gerardo Malsi of Tunggui, silage-making is well accepted by his constituents.
“Nakakalungkot lang dahil naapektuhan ulit kami ng bagyo pero patuloy pa rin kaming magtatanim,” he said. “Sa mga suporta na ibinibigay ng DA-RFO2 at ng lokal na pamahalaan, hindi rin kami hihinto dahil ito ang pinagmumulan ng aming kabuhayan.”
In her facebook post, Municipal Agriculturist Rosalie Tumaneng of Santo Nino, Cagayan expressed her appreciation to DARFO2 for bringing silage making technology in the municipality.
“The activity had brought hope to our farmers after experiencing another calamity that affected their crops,” Tumaneng said.