BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
SIQUIJOR, March 21 (PIA)--Central Visayas top rice-producing city and agricultural extension workers were honored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the third Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards held recently at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, says a report from Renan Ansing, Information Officer of the Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) here.
Out of 48 municipalities and cities in the country, Canlaon City of Negros Oriental bagged the outstanding city in Central Visayas while nine out of 496 agricultural extension workers (AEWs) were conferred and have the share of the P110 million prizes given by the National Rice Program of DA, the report said.
City of Canlaon Mayor Jimmy Clerigo and Marites Clerigo received P1-million worth of project grants. The outstanding AEWs took home a cash incentive of P20,000 each are OIC-PA Larry Pamugas of Bohol, Sergio Cuaco-OPA Bohol, MA Carmen Cubrado, Aida Salingay and Romeo Tariao - Pilar, Bohol; City Agriculturist - Norma Calijan and Andrea Canoy of Canlaon City; Val Alcordo of Carcar City and Nida Abada, OPA Siquijor.
The awards and prizes were handed out by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala together with NRP coordinator and acting undersecretary for Field Operations Dante Delima.
According to Dr. Fabio Enriquez, Regional Rice Program Focal Person and Operations Chief of DA 7, Central Visayas has been awarded of different categories in Rice Program for three consecutive years.
He said as part of the government’s effort toward food security and self-sufficiency, CV is very responsive in responding the call of times to increase yield per hectare thereby increasing production of rice.
On palay yield per hectare, notable increased of 23.4 percent from 2.65 mt of 2010 and 3.27 of 2013. This year’s target is expected to reach the 4.77mt per hectare.
CV’s production in metric tons this year is expected to have an increase of 44 percent based on target of 501,748mt from last year’s 347,697mt.
Based on Bureau of Agricultural Statistics data of 2013, Central Visayas is only 33.76 percent sufficient on rice. Bohol is 104.11 percent, Cebu is 3.01 percent, Negros Oriental is 37.75 percent while Siquijor is 16.43 percent.
Sufficiency figure shows that Central Visayas has a deficit of 66.24 percent last year. Deficit was completed through local importation of rice from the neighbouring regions.
Enriquez said the awards are a way of empowering and thanking rice farmers, local officials and AEWs for the efforts and contribution to increase more in rice production.
DA 7 Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez expresses her gratitude to all awardees and encourages them to become active partners in all DA programs and projects in order to attain rice sufficiency. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siuqijor w/ reports from Renan Lapinig Ansing)