| Oriental
Mindoro boosts rice production program
Oriental
Mindoro Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan remains optimistic that the
looming global rice crisis could be turned into an opportunity
for the Mindoreños, particularly for the farmers all
over the province.
During the regular meeting of the municipal agriculturists
of Oriental Mindoro held recently, Gov. Panaligan stressed
that, “there may be a shortage in rice production around
the country, but the provincial government sees Oriental Mindoro
as one of the major contributors to meet the national food
requirements.” The rice production program has been
given greater attention and more funds have been poured into
it.”
He said that this is an opportunity for rice-producing provinces
like Oriental Mindoro which is considered the 14th largest
producer in the country.
Last year, the province harvested a total of 353,689.308 metric
tons, which is equivalent to seven million cavans of palay,
or 4.5 million sacks of rice.
The provincial government has taken the lead in providing
the direction for the different agencies involved in rice
production so that the so-called crisis can be turned into
an opportunity to increase the income of farmers there.
He said that foremost, he instructed the Provincial Agriculturist
Office to make sure there is an adequate supply of seeds for
the farmers. “I have learned that the seed growers can
only supply 25,000 of the 41,000 rice seed requirements of
our farmers for the next planting season, so I have instructed
the PAgO to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture
and other related agencies.
Gov. Panaligan said that in the meantime, the provincial government
will adopt the “plant now, pay later” scheme instead
of the 50-50 credit subsidy in order to further help the rice
farmers.
Moreover, he has asked the National Irrigation Administration
to fasttrack the repair and rehabilitation of all the irrigation
systems in the province, particularly the Baco-Bucayao River
Irrigation System that services about 4,000 hectares of ricelands.
He has also requested the immediate rehabilitation of the
Tubig River Irrigation System at as well as the other national
and communal irrigation systems in Oriental Mindoro.
He
likewise requested the National Food Authority to regularly
monitor the warehouses to ensure adequate rice supply and
coordinate with the local governments. “I am also reminding
the local governments to get in touch with the NFA relative
to the putting up of retail outlets in their respective areas.
During the forum, Gov. Panaligan also announced that the provincial
government shall be launching the search for the farmer who
can produce the highest yield during the next planting season.
As a way of increasing rice production, the provincial government
will be giving out a P50,000 incentive to the farmer who can
produce the highest yield, which will not go below 150 sacks
of palay, within a one hectare hybrid rice plantation.
Another P50,000 cash incentive will also be awarded to the
farmer with the highest yield in one hectare using inbred
rice. The yield, however, should not go below 120 sacks of
palay.
The second placers and third placers in both the hybrid and
inbred rice categories will each receive P30,000 and P20,000,
respectively.
Oriental Mindoro’s annual rice consumption is pegged
at 1.8 million sacks at an average of two and a half sacks
for each of the 750,000 populace.
With an average annual production of about 4 million sacks
of rice, the province has a production surplus of over 2 million
sacks. (PIA-MMIO)
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