Six towns cited WV’s top rice

CEBU, Philippines - Six municipalities in Western Visayas will be cited after being named top rice producers in Western Visayas for 2012.

Chosen to receive the Department of Agriculture’s 2nd Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards were the towns of Dumalag in Capiz, Pototan in Iloilo, Kabankalan in Negros Occidental, Kalibo in Aklan, Sibalom in Antique and San Miguel in Iloilo.

They will also receive a P1 million prize grant each, which will be given in the form of projects and incentives during the awarding ceremony, scheduled on March 15, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The awardees were selected based on the following criteria: Incremental rice harvest and average yield per hectare over 2011 levels; increase if any over 2012 target; amount of budget devoted to rice projects and initiatives; number of farmers benefited; and degree of rice seed utilization.

Aside from the six towns, the DA also chose 58 agricultural extension workers in the region as recipients of the top rice achievers award.

Five of them came from Negros Occidental while the rest were from Iloilo. Each of them will be receiving P20,000 worth of incentives.  (FREEMAN)