IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay--The provincial government has increased its rice production assistance fund from PHP5 million to PHP15 million this year in recognition of the province's hefty contribution to the region’s total rice harvest.
Gov. Wilter Yap Palma said the increase aims to further boost the rice yield of the farmers in this province, which contributed 27 percent to the region's rice harvest last year.
“We are able to increase the rice production of the province because of the determination and desire of our farmers (to plant more rice),” Palma noted, as he announced the increase to PHP15 million of his administration’s rice production program, known as the Agricultural Support to Farmers on Rice Production (ASFRP).
The ASFRP is a lending program of the provincial government for the rice farmers, which is implemented by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Palma said that rice is the most important crop that the government needs to implement effective support programs for to increase the farmers’ production.
Aurelia Cababat, acting provincial agriculturist, said the ASFRP has boosted rice production in this province on top of other support services to the farmers.
Cababat said other support services include education and training for farmers on technology adoption, including organic farming.
The provincial government said it has strengthened the campaign on organic farming method in pursuit of sustainable agriculture system here.
“These are just some of the significant efforts undertaken why the province was recognized as one of the top producers of rice in different varieties for the first time in the region,” Cababat said.
A total of 281 farmers have availed of the rice production assistance program last year.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the rice production of this province in 2017 was 188,886 metric tons (MT), which translates to 27 percent contribution to the region’s rice harvest. The Department of Agriculture (DA) on May 31 recognized that achievement by giving Zamboanga Sibugay the 2017 Rice Achievers Award in Category B.
Category B covers provinces with less than 50,000 hectares rice production area.
The award came with a PHP4 million incentive from the DA in the form of rice production-related projects. The other awardee in the same category is the province of Kalinga. (PNA)
