DA-7 to increase rice sufficiency

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture-7 under the agricultural roadmap aims to increase rice sufficiency level in Central Visayas by 29 percent by the end of the year as it currently stands at 25 percent.

Jorge Paculba, DA 7 Crops Division chief, said that in order to achieve the 29 percent sufficiency level by yearend, the region needs to increase its rice production to 313, 778 metric tons.

Under the DA’s blueprint or agricultural roadmap from 2011-2016, the four major components are given due priority namely rice, corn, livestock and high value crops.

The rice program aims to increase rice production in Central Visayas from 270,499 metric tons in 2011 to 392,806 metric tons by 2016 through the use of certified seeds, which is expected to yield quality harvest amid the threats of La Niña and climate change.

Angel Enriquez, regional technical director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7, said these quality seeds are more flood-tolerant so farmers need not worry much about extreme bad weather conditions brought about by climate change.

“The use of quality seeds really make a difference in terms of high production output. This is why we are now promoting the use of these certified seeds in order to help our farmers increase their rice harvest and at the same time increase their income,” Enriquez said.

The agency is also implementing the community-based seed-banking scheme in order to achieve its increased rice target production. The scheme sees the distribution of quality or certified seeds to farmers’ and irrigators associations, she said.

“For two kilos of registered seeds given to a farmer, this can produce around five bags of quality seeds which should be shared among the other members of the same association,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez however said the harvest time for the registered seeds to yield more quality seeds is about four months.

DA 7 Regional Rice Coordinator Fabio Enriquez, on the other hand, said that under the scheme, the DA 7 provides at least 20 kilos of certified seeds to one association which can yield about 80 to 100 bags of certified seeds and could be shared with other members of the group.

Since the scheme was implemented last year, the DA7 was able to distribute around 861 bags in Central Visayas, of which 234 bags were given to Cebu. — (FREEMAN)