RICE CONFERENCE. Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations, Dr. Andrew Villacorta, delivers the keynote address of Secretary William Dar during the opening of the National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference in Iloilo City on Monday (Nov. 25, 2019). The conference hopes to come up with initiatives that would further improve and protect the industry. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)
ILOILO CITY – The two-day National Rice Industry Stakeholders Conference that also serves as culminating activity of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) celebration this November, kicked off here on Monday, gathering 750 participants from various regions in the country.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar, in his keynote address delivered by Assistant Secretary for Operations Dr. Andrew Villacorta, said that the conference themed, “Empowering Rice Farmers Organizations Anchored on Value Chain System”, hopes to gather inputs to further develop the Philippine Rice Industry Roadmap 2040 and improve programs, projects and initiatives under the rice programs.
“Hopefully, our outputs would define appropriate technologies that will contribute to achieving the twin objectives of Masaganang Ani and Masaganang Kita,” he said.
Dar added that other objectives are the increased participation of women and other vulnerable sectors in the DA rice program and identify areas of cooperation between and among farmers groups and cooperatives, and other stakeholders to further improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the rice program.
Moreover, Dar informed participants of the department’s accomplishments in support of the rice value chain.
In terms of input subsistence relative to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) utilization, DA has initiated the distribution of seeds and procurement of farm machinery.
“These supports will be distributed to validated farmers' groups and cooperatives. Distribution of loans and rice to individual farmers and cooperatives is also ongoing through the Landbank of the Philippines,” he said.
DA has also programs targeting farmers who lack irrigation by providing them opportunities to shift to high-value crops.
Moreover, an unconditional cash transfer is being readied to aid farmers due to the low prices of palay.
For networking and linkages, the department looks forward to a “greater private and public investments” as well as making available technical advice and support to agri-business and production and research and management. (PNA)
