CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — A technology developed by a Mindoreño and backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) MIMAROPA is now contributing to the country’s rice production.
The Palatak Palay Seeder, an invention by Engr. Delfin C. Cuevas, Jr. from Bongabong town in Oriental Mindoro but currently residing temporarily in Canada, is expected to have significant potential in strengthening rice production not only in the province but also nationwide.
The Palatak Palay Seeder is an innovative technology designed to directly plant seeds on the soil while ensuring equal amount of seeds are placed at consistent distances in each hole. This also facilitates easier weed removal and improves air circulation in the soil, which enhances the process of photosynthesis.
According to Zaldie C. Gawad, Senior Science Specialist of DOST Oriental Mindoro, Cuevas, who is a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW), is a beneficiary of the DOST’s iFWD program, which aims to assist former OFWs who want to settle in the country and start a business here.
“Si Engr. Delfin Cuevas ay isang former OFW na nagtrabaho sa abroad for almost 33 years. After po nung mag decide siya na mag settle for good dito sa Pilipinas, isa po siya sa mga beneficiary ng mga programa ng DOST ng kung tawagin ay iFWD. Ang iFWD ay nagpoprovide ng assistance sa mga former OFWs na gusto na mag settle for good dito sa ating bansa,” Gawad said.
[Engr. Delfin Cuevas is a former OFW who worked abroad for almost 33 years. After deciding to settle for good in the Philippines, he became one of the beneficiaries of DOST’s iFWD program. The iFWD program provides assistance to former OFWs who wish to settle for good in our country.]
As proof of the effectiveness of the Palatak Palay Seeder, Gawad said that over 20 provinces in the country are already using the device. He also discussed the advantages of using the Palatak Palay Seeder.
“Sa ngayon po, ang Palatak Palay Seeder ay umabot na sa more than 20 provinces sa buong Pilipinas at patuloy pang tinantangkilik ng ating mga magsasaka. Ang kagandahan po sa Palatak Palay Seeder, ito po ay manually operated or kayang hilahin ng isang tao. Napaka gaan po nito. Ito po ay 17 kilos lang at gawa po ito sa matitibay at quality materials,” he said.
[Currently, the Palatak Palay Seeder has reached more than 20 provinces across the Philippines, and it continues to be embraced by our farmers. The beauty of the Palatak Palay Seeder is that it is manually operated, so one person can pull it. It is very light, weighing only 17 kilos, and it is made from durable, high-quality materials.]
DOST Oriental Mindoro Provincial Director Jesse Pine emphasized that the technology, which is supported by their agency, was created to help farmers, especially with the rising costs of producing high-quality rice in the country.
“Ito ay dinevelop unang-una para sa mga farmers kase masyado lumalaki nga ang production cost. Dapat merong ilang programa ang ating gobyerno para ito ay ma-address, maging smart at sustainable. Wala itong ginagamit na petrolyo kase ito ay manual, so zero carbon emission ito pag tiningnan natin. So, napakaganda na imbensyon ng isang Mindoreno,” he said.
[It was developed primarily for farmers because production costs have been rising significantly. The government should have programs to address this and make the process smarter and more sustainable. It doesn’t use petroleum because it is manual, so it has zero carbon emissions. It’s truly a remarkable invention by a Mindoreno.]
Anna Liza Castor, a farmer from Sampaguita, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, expressed her gratitude for the device invented by her fellow Mindoreno. She said that it has reduced her costs in rice production and significantly improved the yield of her crops.
“Itong karanasan kong ito, gamit ang “sabog” dati, madaming lahok, talagang hindi siya matanggal. Ang daming gastos. Ngayong napag-aralan ko na gamitin ito, ang laking adbentahe sakin, madaling tanggalan ng lahok, makikita ko siya kaagad. Sa pag gamit ko rin nito, nakatipid ako sa abono, kase nung daanan siya nung seeder, para siyang talok, lumalaki yung puno niya, nagiging matibay kontra sa hangin. Kaya para sa akin, mairerekomenda ko po ito sa kahit kanino,” Castor said.
[My experience with the ‘sabog’ method before was that it left a lot of chaff, which was hard to remove. It was very expensive. Now that I’ve learned to use this device, it has made a big difference for me. It’s much easier to remove the chaff, and I can see it right away. I’ve also saved on fertilizer because when the seeder passed through, it helped the plants grow stronger and sturdier against the wind. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.]
The Palatak Palay Seeder is expected to be adopted by more provinces across the country. Through this, it will help realize the goal of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to reduce the price of rice to ₱20 per kilo in the market. (JJGS/ALG/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
