The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Cordillera Administrative Region is set on increasing the production yield of rice in the region. “An increase of 49 percent production yield is targeted for this year in order to reach the rice sufficiency rate of the region by 2019,” said Miriam Pastor, technical staff of Rice Program.
Further, with this goal, the budget allotted for 2018 increased almost 50 percent from the 2016 budget.
The directives set by the department in the implementation of projects for rice are the 1) adaptation and disaster risk reduction management which uses high quality seeds for adverse ecosystem, the hybrid and inbred seed buffer stocking, and provision of agricultural chemical buffer stocks; 2) prioritize the repair and rehabilitation of facilities; and, 3) pooling of agricultural machineries and equipment for calamity and epidemic quick response.
Other strategies to increase farm productivity also include the deployment of ICT-based advisory system, push the micro agri-enterprise for rice-based advisory development, support small scale irrigation projects, continuation of rice model farm and strengthening the technology demonstration and support activities, training and training-related events, and the strengthening of Local Farmer Technicians and Farm Service Providers.
Moreover, an evident reduction in production cost can also be achieved thru the distribution of farm machineries, equipment and post-harvest facilities. Farm mechanization can bring down the cost of labor and reduces postharvest losses.
Pastor explained that though the production volume last year decreased significantly due to the two strong typhoons that struck during the harvest season, rice sufficiency can still be achieved. While for this year, she further explained that 50 percent of the budget is allotted for irrigation support services to increase and widen the production areas, thus producing a higher yield.**Jenny M. Dayao
