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NegOcc rice farmers get machinery, hybrid seeds from DA

By Erwin Nicavera

August 14, 2020, 5:46 pm

BACOLOD CITY – Rice farmers in Negros Occidental received various assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA), including machinery and hybrid seeds, to boost their productivity.

As of Friday, eight rice-based farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the province were provided with eight units of riding-type transplanter worth PHP1.6 million each, which are part of the 20 units distributed by the DA in Region 6 (Western Visayas).

The project is being implemented under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program of DA.

Engineer Romar Areno, head of DA-Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMec) Visayas Cluster, said in a statement that during rice production, the riding-type transplanter can plant young rice seedlings much faster on a wetland preparation.

It can plant in a precise row spacing and distance between hills, and adjustable depending on the desired space between 11 and 21 centimeters, he added.

FCAs applied for DA accreditation to avail of these interventions.

To qualify, members of the eligible association should have at least 50 hectares of rice areas and a minimum of 100 hectares within the peripheral barangays from the proposed location of the agricultural machinery and post-harvest facilities.

Areno said the operators of the machinery and equipment attended a hands-on training before the equipment were turned over to the association.

The FCAs are required to provide shed for the machinery and to follow the suggested service fee.

DA-6 Regional Director Remelyn Recoter said aside from mechanization, the program also aims to support the local rice farmers through the provision of quality seeds, access to credit, and rice extension service.

“All these interventions are geared toward boosting the local production of rice and improving the competitiveness of rice farmers after the quantitative restrictions on rice importation was lifted in 2019 with the passage of Republic Act 11203 also known as the Rice Tariffication Law,” she added.

Meanwhile, the DA-6 also distributed some 21,364 bags of hybrid rice seeds to rice farmers in Negros Occidental through their respective local government units (LGUs).

Through the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP), the DA provided farmers various hybrid varieties.

DA-6 Officer-In-Charge Regional Technical Director Rene Famoso encouraged all LGUs to fast track the distribution of the hybrid seeds to farmers in time for the wet cropping season.

“Farmers who have planted early could have a quick turn-around and plant hybrid rice seeds before September 15 this year which is still considered under the wet cropping season,” he added. (PNA)

 

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