A successful ABFS Rice Field Day โ Harvest Festival was held on March 12, 2026 in Brgy. Salawagan, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, bringing together a total of 92 participants composed of farmers, partner agencies, and local officials to celebrate the harvest and showcase the results of the ABFS Rice implementation.
Mr. Villamor Vinegas, President of the SalDam Irrigators Association (SalDam IA), delivered the Welcome Address, warmly greeting the participants and acknowledging the collaborative efforts of government agencies and farmers in the successful implementation of the technology demonstration.
Farmer beneficiaries from SalDam IA actively participated in the activity and shared their testimonies.
* Mr. Roberto Marfil โ From his 1.4-hectare rice field, he produced a total of 152 sacks, with an average weight of 75 kilos per sack, translating to an estimated 8.1 tons per hectare yield.
* Ms. Evelinda Besorio โ Shared that their harvest exceeded their expectations. She emphasized the importance of proper timing in planting and fertilizer applications and expressed their commitment to continue adopting the ABFS practices in the coming seasons.
*Mr. Donal Devis โ With more than 40 years of farming experience, he shared that this harvest was the most abundant he has experienced, attributing the result to the implementation of ABFS.
*Mr. Raus Buer โ Cultivating 1.7 hectares, he harvested 174 sacks of rice with an average of 75 kilos per sack, equivalent to around 7.6 tons per hectare, reflecting the positive results of the ABFS.
Representatives from partner agencies who worked together in ensuring the success of the ABFS Rice implementation also delivered their messages during the event:
*Ms. Iselin Cueco โ Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office IX (on behalf of Mr. Ryan Anthony Credo, Regional Rice Program Focal Person)
*Mr. Johnny Mangumpit โ National Irrigation Administration Sibuguey Valley Irrigation System (NIA SVIS) Office
*Mr. Walter Soriano โ Officer-In-Charge, Municipal Agriculture Office of Bayog
*Hon. Ronilo S. Yamaro โ Sangguniang Bayan Member (Chairman, Agriculture Committee)
*Hon. Theody Matias โ Sangguniang Bayan Member (Representative of Hon. Mayor Celso Matias)
Their presence highlighted the strong collaboration among national and regional agencies, local government units (LGUs), and farmer organizations in supporting agricultural development in the municipality.
Mr. Michael Alexis Nota, Alternate Leader of the Soil and Water Access Team (SWAT) for Region IX of the Department of Agriculture โ Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), presented an overview of the implementation of the Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS). He emphasized the importance of providing the right fertilizer element, correct amount, and proper timing of application to meet the nutrient requirements of the crops while maintaining soil health.
Prior to the Harvest Festival, the BSWM team also conducted crop cut data collection and plant tissue sampling for laboratory analysis to further evaluate the performance of the demonstration area and generate data that will support science-based nutrient management recommendations. The activity was facilitated by the BSWM team composed of Mr. Farley Conde, Mr. Roger Principe, and Ms. Emelyn Sumusog.
The Field Day and Harvest Festival served not only as a celebration of the harvest but also as a venue for learning, knowledge sharing, and strengthening partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable rice production in Zamboanga del Sur.
