As part of the 115th founding anniversary of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) and partner institutions organize the CAFS Farmers’ Field Day with the theme “Accelerating Vision: Growing Tomorrow’s Agriculture Today!” from March 4 to 8, 2024.
The week-long program kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., UPLB chancellor, and Dr. Elpidio Agbisit, Jr., CAFS dean. Moreover, Chancellor Camacho expressed his gratitude to the college for conducting the event, which aimed to further promote agriculture by showcasing the university’s promising crop varieties.
“When we don’t have a famers’ field day, it doesn’t mean that we are not doing anything. In fact, farming is part of our everyday practice. Because if we are not doing anything, why is it that many institutions and agencies come to our university to consult with our experts, students, and researchers?” said Chancellor Camacho in his opening remarks.
More than 600 visitors, comprised of farmers, students, researchers, municipal agricultural offices, and other stakeholders in CALABARZON, paid a visit to the 5,000-square-meter field demo located at CES, Pili Drive, UPLB, wherein IPB exhibited standing crops of open-pollinated varieties of cereals (corn, sorghum), vegetables (okra, cucumber, upo, sitao, saluyot, lagikway, alugbati), legumes (mungbean), root crops (sweet potato), and fruits (pineapple), among others. Moreover, the partner-exhibitors, East-West Seed, Ramgo International Corporation, Harbest, and Kaneko Seeds, also showcased their hybrid vegetable varieties and different products.
Moreover, the partner-exhibitors, East-West Seed, Ramgo International Corporation, Harbest, and Kaneko Seeds, also showcased their hybrid vegetable varieties and different products.
The farmers also had the chance to consult their concerns about plant pests and diseases with experts from IPB and the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC). The visitors enjoyed the tour and appreciated the fruits of agriculture. CAFS Farmers’ Field Day is one of the extension programs of the college to reach out to the public and encourage youth to take agri-related courses. (Dianne B. Ubaldo)
(Photos by Dianne B. Ubaldo)