By Myris Lee
The Department of Agriculture’ (DA) goal to hit 100% rice self-sufficiency level is “within reach,” according to Secretary William Dar.
Dar said the Department successfully implemented the Philippine Integrated Rice Program (PIRP) which saw a “substantial increase” in both the hectarage and average yield per hectare of both hybrid and inbred rice.
He added that more areas in the country are now planted with quality hybrid and inbred rice varieties with optimum levels of fertilizer application.
“What is notable is that farmers are now producing more harvests and therefore earning bigger incomes from hybrid and inbred rice,” Dar said.
The three components of PIRP include the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), National Rice Program (NRP) that includes hybrid promotion, and Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) that grants fertilizer subsidies to inbred and hybrid rice farmers.
Dar said 10 out of 15 provinces in the country are top hybrid rice producers in terms of volume: Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Cagayan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Leyte, Oriental Mindoro, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, and Occidental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, in terms of average yield of hybrid rice per hectare, the top provinces are Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Occidental Mindoro,Cagayan, Tarlac, and Isabela.
“This way, and with assured budgetary support, we could produce palay at a cost-efficient manner, reducing our current production cost from P11 down to about P9 to P8 per kilo, and attain reasonably-priced rice for consumers,” Dar said. – gb
