Government rice R & D program improves Ormoc farmers’ lives

When it comes to implementing rice R&D technology programs, give Mayor Eric C. Codilla of Ormoc City (Leyte) the highest grade.

That’s what DA-PhilRice did when it sponsored the 20th National Rice R&D Conference held last March 14-15 at its 100 plus-hectare central experiment station and main office along the Cagayan Valley Road in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

"By leading the town’s Rice Production Enhancement Program since 2005, Mayor Codilla and his team had improved the income of around 2,000 farmers, who used to earn only P18,000," PhilRice stated at the program wherein the mayor was cited.

The Ormoc City farmers, it added, used to harvest only four tons per hectare. Now the land tillers are averaging 7 t/ha, giving each farmer a net income of P37,000 a season.

The five-year harvest-season program of Ormoc City, which promotes hybrid rice production, entitles farmers to avail themselves of P1.3 million loan without interest so that they can buy inputs such as fertilizer.

"Most farmers cannot maximize their land because they lack capital. Through the program, we hope to produce surplus, which we can sell to neighboring provinces and cities," Codilla said.

He recalled that the program took off in a 345-ha area planted to hybrid rice. After a season, more than 900 ha had been covered.

In 2006, the area devoted to these improved rice varieties reached 1,000 ha.

The city government has convinced farmers to participate and adopt the technology by designing a scheme that is "doable, effective, and sustainable."

Farmers who harvest a minimum of 6.5 t/ha are privileged of not paying back the loan. Those who produce 5.95—5.5 t/ha pay 25 percent of the loan; 5.45-5 t/ha, 50 percent; and 3.95-4.5 t/ha, 75 percent.

The lowest yielders (below 4.5 t/ha) pay the total loan amount.

Palay serves as loan payment, which are milled and rationed to poor elementary pupils, each getting a kilo of rice a day.

"This way, kids get incentives in going to school and their basic education is ensured. Parents of poor families now encourage their children to go to school for the one kilogram of rice," Codilla said.

He concluded that by implementing the program, the Ormoc City government not only increased farmers’ income but also assisted the less fortunate families and lowered the dropout rate of school children. — Rudy A. Fernandez