Farms and Industry through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) on Rice participants tour the demonstration area of PhilRice in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, to see the future in rice production.
The FIESTA was organized and conducted by the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC).
Dubbed as the FutureRice Farm, the site, which is also a farm tourism site, showcases machinery and other rice production and pre- and post-harvest technologies.
These technologies, among other innovations, use web and android applications for farmers, extension workers, and students. One of them is the use of drone for rice farm digital mapping, pest management, stress assessment, and agronomic data collection for farm management.
The site also features the use of clean and renewable energy and natural farming innovations and diversifications.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department (DOST-PCAARRD), which initiated FIESTA as a technology diffusion platform, funded the activity together with other agencies.
FIESTA is PCAARRD’s platform for R&D results utilization. It aims to promote S&T and its products towards providing competitive and profitable business ventures for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources sectors of the country.