Bicolano farmer-scientist adjudged Most Outstanding Magsasaka Siyentista

LEGAZPI CITY, Jun 22 (PNA) - A Bicolano who opted to go into full-time farming than practice his engineering profession bested other farmers in Bicol region in the Search for the Most Outstanding Magsasaka Siyentista under the Techno Gabay Program of Bicol Consortium for Agriculture Resources Research and Development (BCARRD).

Engineer Raul Carreras of Panagan, Goa, Camarines Sur received P15,000 cash and plaque during the awarding ceremony Thursday of Techno Gabay regional winners at Albay Capitol People's Hall.

Carreras, a civil engineer by profession, said the opportunities he experienced in farming totally lured his heart to go full-time in agriculture. His closest partner is the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) center in the province of Camarines Sur.

He has diverse agri-business ventures ranging from crops to animal production with 100 hectares of his farm to sugarcane and 40 hectares to corn.

Carreras also produces mango, abaca, rice and vegetables and presently keeps 23,000 heads of hens for egg production, 12 heads of cattle.

As Farmer Scientist or Magsasaka Siyentista, Carreras is involved in establishment of Science and Technology-based farm (STBF), a component of the Techno Gabay program.

As corn farmer he is very particular and meticulous when it comes to the application of the package of technology starting from seed selection, land preparation, planting to harvesting and storage.

Farm wastes like corn husks and corn stalks are left in the field to decompose and other farm wastes such as chicken and hog manure are used as organic fertilizer, he said.

His production record of 9 to 10.7 tons per hectares gives him a net income of P338,017 per cropping season.

"Marketing of corn is not a problem because I uses the bulk of corn produce in mixing my own feed formulation for poultry and swine," Carreras said.