LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC) has unveiled a rice paddy art of Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
RICE paddy art of Gov. Manotoc. (Contributed photo)
Vice Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos represented Manotoc during the unveiling ceremony with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) President Dr. Shirley Agrupis and executives from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute over the weekend.
Almer Anatolio Ratuita, INAC principal, said that this was the first time that they made a rice paddy art and chose Manotoc in gratitude for the support that he has provided for the school.
Rice varieties used in the rice paddy art were IR 1552, a traditional purple rice variety, and NSIC Rc 222.
The rice paddy art was made possible through the cooperation of various agencies and institutions such as the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the MMSU and its Extension Directorate, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, the provincial and municipal agriculture office, local government of Pasuquin, Schools Divisions of Ilocos Norte, and the INAC.
INAC has also launched the Intayon INAC and LSA School Program.
Various farm machineries were turned over after the unveiling of the rice paddy art such as tractor, rice transplanter, reaper, and water pumps to the school. A newly built road in Pasuquin was also inaugurated.
Ratuita said that they requested the machinery for the food processing plant from the provincial government.
He added that a lot of high-value crops tend to go to waste, most especially when not sold immediately, and this fostered the idea of establishing a food processing plant.