Another rice paddy art crop will be launched on Thursday (Aug. 18) in front of the administration building of the state-run Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City to boost farm tourism and further inspire young Ilocanos to venture into modern farming.

MMSU president Shirley Agrupis said they partnered anew with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for the establishment of the rice paddy art using IR 1552, a traditional purple rice variety, and the PSB Rc 82 as green rice, one of the highest yielding rice varieties the PhilRice has produced with a maximum potential yield of 12 tons per hectare.

“The ceremonial planting will be conducted at 7:30 a.m. in front of the MMSU administration building,” she said as she invited visitors and other guests to witness the program.

To create the paddy design, the planters will be using the anamorphosis principle, a technique used in 3D art where a picture looks distorted but appears normal when viewed from a certain angle.

As a tribute to one of Batac’s heroic leaders, the image of Artemio Ricarte, a Filipino general known as the Father of the Philippine Army during the Philippine Revolution, whose national shrine is still well-maintained at the heart of Batac downtown, will be featured in this year’s paddy art project.

Other images featured in the rice paddy art of MMSU and PhilRice in the past were: former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and the university’s seven-point agenda “ACHIEVE,” former first lady Imelda Marcos, former MMSU president and PhilRice executive director Dr. Santiago Obien, and Don Mariano Marcos, whom the MMSU was named after.

According to Agrupis, the university will continue its rice paddy art to promote food security as well as to honor the farmers and the youth. (PNA)