By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 11 (PIA)
-- For the first-time ever, Bohol’s average palay farm yield has breached the 3
tons-per-hectare, according to the data from the Provincial Agriculture Office
(PAO) here.
Provincial Assistant Agriculturist Larry Pamugas disclosed the positive rice
production as a feat considering that half of Bohol’s rice lands are upland and
rain-fed areas where plants are dependent on rainfall and mechanization is
almost nil.
Pamugas based his pronouncements on the farmers’ average yield of 2.4 tons per
hectare all over Bohol.
During a recent executive meeting at the Governor’s Mansion, Pamugas said the
data which show that Bohol has finally breached the 3.08-ton mark is a sign
that the rice industry in Bohol is on its way up.
The achievement, he pointed out, is so visible in the overall rice yield for
Bohol which has reached 237,836 metric tons (MT) this year.
This, however, is still far from the average production in other provinces
where most of their lands are irrigated and farmers easily adapt to mechanized
farming as well as modern technologies and inputs, said Pamugas.
The provincial assistant agriculturist however said, the increase is pegged at
2.71 percent from the previous year’s total of 231,569 MT.
Records from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics in Bohol show that palay
production from 2006 to 2009 posted positive increases.
In 2006, rice production recorded at 162,697 MT which grew to 163,441 MT in
2007 and in 2008 hiked to 218,701 MT. In 2009 however, palay production harvest
was only 195,445 MT which again decreased to 191,174 MT the following year but
posted a dramatic growth in 2012 with 231,569 MT.
Among the factors cited behind Bohol’s positive rice yield growth are the three
major irrigation dams that contributed to make huge tracts of land in
northeastern Bohol available for multiple cropping annually.
Gov. Edgar Chatto also funded trainings and seminars for farmer-technologists
while Congressman Arthur Yap also engaged farmers to adopt new technologies,
proper water management, correct timing in application of farm inputs, and the
option for inbred or the high yielding hybrid varieties.
All these factors contributed in making good things fall into place, said
Pamugas.
According to reports from the office of Rep. Yap, the use of hybrid seeds and
correct technology which they adopted and piloted in 1,300 hectares during the
dry season’s planting period in 2011-2012 registered a dramatic increase in
rice production.
Sergio Cuaco of the crops division at the PAO said even by using inbred
certified rice seeds in some areas produce the same dramatic results of between
three to five tons per hectare as some agriculture officials stated the use of
hybrid seeds can produce an average of 5.4 tons per hectare.
Records for the SL8 hybrid rice pilot tested in Bohol also show it can yield
some seven to 11 tons per hectare.
Although agriculture authorities have admitted there is so much more needed to
be done to make most of the rain-fed and upland areas sufficiently be
cultivated to yield better rice produce.
Cuaco said Bohol only has 23,680 hectares of irrigated lands, while about
16,787 hectares are rain-fed areas and about 110 hectares are classified as
upland farms.
To further boost rice production harvest, agricultural authorities here said
their next target is to make sure they increase the number of inbred seeds or
hybrid adoptors, and provide the timely technical assistance needed by
farmer-technologists.(FCR/RAHC-PIA 7, Bohol)