As part of the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera’s (DA-CARs) initiative to preserve and expand the production of heirloom rice in the region, 108 farmers in the province of Benguet successfully finished their seven (7) month course on Highland Rice Production under the Farmers Field School (FFS) Program of the DA.
In the graduation ceremonies held at the Benguet Cold Chain in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet on November 26, 2025, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan, in a message read by Benguet Assistant Agriculture Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Cirilo Batan, acknowledged the commitment given by the farmers to the seven-month program, proving that learning is a continuous process that provides the opportunity for the participants to learn innovative means and sustainable practices to improve and develop farming in the region.
“The FFS on Heirloom Rice production, which was implemented through the Heirloom Rice Project, provides key farming technologies alongside sustainable cultural practices to enhance productivity and integration of science-based crop management systems. As you know, the heirloom rice land terraces in CAR are more than crops; these are heritage crops that are deeply rooted in the region’s history, culture, and agricultural heritage,” the message read.
Thirty (30) farmer participants from the municipality of Kibungan, 26 from Itogon, 27 from Bakun, and 25 from Atok comprised of the FFS graduates, who all received their Certificates of Completion, aside from agricultural supplies in support of their heirloom rice production.
FFS graduate representatives Didith Alsem of Atok, Miling Sesep of Kibungan, Leonora Carpio of Itogon, and Wenyfreda Begnisen of Bakun expressed their appreciation to DA-CAR and their partner local government units for the skills and knowledge gained from the seven-month-long training that covered seven (7) sessions starting with land preparation, cooperative establishment, nutrient management, water management, pest management, and harvest management.
Director Dawayan reiterated DA-CAR’s commitment in continuing heirloom rice productivity through trainings and provisions of organic inputs and fertilizers, and promoting crop diversity for resilient farming system, aside from revisiting its effort for geographical identification certification that serves as a safeguard on the rights of heirloom rice farmers, ensuring authenticity and integrity of heirloom rice and heritage crops to be available in the market and for future generations to experience.
Handed down through generations, heirloom rice are special breeds of indigenous rice that exhibit exceptional nutritional value, flavor, aroma, color, and cooking quality.//JTLlanes DA-CAR Press
