The Department of Agriculture 6 will hold the first rice and corn information caravan on February 16 at the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Jaro, Iloilo City.

OIC Regional Executive Diector Larry Nacionales said the activity aims to promote and create awareness on the various banner programs of the DA, particularly on rice and corn, among the industries' stakeholders.

Guests of honors will be Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Assistant Secretary Clayton Olalia.

Nacionales said the caravan will focus on Yap's six-point agenda - market access, post-harvest facilities, irrigation, access to credit, research and development and extension, and income diversification. It will also showcase new agricultural technologies and outstanding DA programs and projects in the region.

Ricardo Saltin, DA regional corn coordinator, said there will also be field observations on rice varietal trials, natural farming, organic farming using tricoderma, earthworm and effective micro-organisms, and seed processing.

DA attached agencies such as the National Food Authority, Bureau of Post Harvest and Research Extension, Agriculture and Credit Policy Council, Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp., National Irrigation Administration, and Philippine Rice Research Institute will also update participants on their programs.

DA said the information caravan will also be held in other provinces in Western Visayas shortly.*NLG

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