Senator Cynthia S. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, keynotes the “Radiation-modified carrageenan technology for rice” in a Farmer’s Field day held in Barangay Balatong B, Pulilan, Bulacan.
The technology, called carrageenan plant growth regulator (CPGR), is a collaborative program implemented by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños-National Crop Protection Center (UPLB-NCPC). The program is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the DOST (DOST-PCAARRD).
Joining Villar (from left, seated) were Pulilan Mayor Vicente B. Esguerra, Sr.; DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo with wife Maria Rosario O. Montejo, and DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Amelia P. Guevarra.
Results show that CPGR increased rice yield in Pulilan, Bulacan by more than 65%. Farmers from neighboring barangays were in attendance and observed the trial farms in Barangay Balatong B.