DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Agriculture Training Institute-Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1), has organized various activities for the celebration of National Rice Awareness Month and the 9th Organic Agriculture Month this November.
This is to support local farmers, promote organic agricultural practices, and educate the public about the importance of National Rice Awareness Month and Organic Agriculture Month to address issues such as food security, malnutrition, and poverty.
“Ang dalawang inisyatibong ito ay mayroong malalim na kahalagahan tungo sa pagkamit natin ng seguridad at kaligtasan sa ating pagkain dito sa bansa, kaya lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa mga taong patuloy na nagpapatatag sa pundasyon ng sektor ng agrikultura rito sa Rehiyon Uno at maging sa buong bansa,” said Rogelio Evangelista, center director of ATI-RTC 1, intensifying the call to support these month-long celebrations.
Said celebrations were formally launched on November 13 at the ATI-RTC 1 in Tebag-East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan through presentation of the activities.
This was followed by the Regional Kabataang Organic Agriculture Quiz Bee held on November 14 at the ATI-RTC 1, participated by agri-related students from the Pangasinan State University (PSU) in Pangasinan; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in La Union; Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) in Ilocos Sur; and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte.
“Layunin po ng Kabataang Organic Agriculture Quiz Bee na hikayatin ang mga kabataan na mag-go into agriculture, into farming, and to present the opportunities ng agriculture sa country natin,” said Alladin Tabo, information officer II of ATI-RTC 1 and project officer of Organic Agriculture Month.
Rouchel Agapito from PSU won the quiz bee and will be representing the region at the National Level on November 22-24, 2023 at the ATI-Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City.
Other competitions are the Promotional Video Making Contest, Digital Art Making Contest, Search for the Best Organic Agriculture Practices through Paper and Oral Presentation, Poster Competition on the Best Rice-Based Integrated Farming System, and 2023 Be RICEponsible TikTok Challenge.
“Sa TikTok challenge ay dapat makita ang A, B, K, D – Adlay, mais, saba at iba pa ay ihalo sa kanin; Brown rice ay kainin; Kanin ay huwag sayangin; at Dapat bigas ng Pilipinas ang bilhin,” Junelyn Repancol, information office II of ATI-RTC 1 and project officer for National Rice Awareness Month, said.
All entries received on November 16 will be evaluated following the criteria in each category indicated in https://tinyurl.com/4ysdxs5d.
Entries should reflect the purpose of National Rice Awareness Month and Organic Agriculture Month celebrations.
This year, National Rice Awareness Month has a theme: “Be RICEponsible,” which encourages the public to reduce food wastage and consume rice responsibly.
On the other hand, Organic Agriculture (OA) Month has a theme: “Kabuhayang OA, Kinabukasang Okay,” which highlights the economic benefits of organic farming as the government promotes organic agriculture.
Meanwhile, ATI-RTC 1 will also hold a Rice for Rise: A Webinar on Rice-Based Farming System on Tuesday, November 21 via Zoom and ATI Ilocos Region Facebook Livestreaming.
All interested in attending the webinar may register at https://tinyurl.com/y84hdkza.
Further, participants in the Search for the Best Organic Agriculture Practices will present their papers to the Panel of Evaluators during the regional culmination activity on November 28 at the ATI-RTC 1.
The winners of each competition will receive a cash prize and a plaque of award during the culmination day.
The celebration of National Rice Awareness Month and Organic Agriculture Month are under Proclamation No. 524, series of 2004 and Proclamation No. 1030, series of 2015, respectively. (JCR/AMB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)
