BAGUIO CITY—The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region has targeted an increase of 50 percent production yield of rice in the Cordillera region by 2019.
Miriam Pastor, technical staff of the region’s Rice Production Program, said that with this goal, the budget allotted for 2018 increased almost 50 percent from the 2016 budget.
The directives set by the DA in the implementation of projects for rice production includes;
1) Climate adaptation change 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 include deployment of ICT-based advisory system, pushing for the micro agri-enterprise for rice-based advisory development, employing support to 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.
Pastor said that 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.
She 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.
