Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is still pushing for an increase in the province’s average rice production from about four metric tons to six metric tons per hectare before the end of his term.
Lacson said raising rice productivity has been one of his priorities, with the target aimed at improving the province’s rice sufficiency and strengthening its local seed industry.
“Since I took office as governor, I have encouraged our rice producers to produce at least six metric tons per hectare,” Lacson said. “I hope we can meet that target by the time I step down. But otherwise, we will have to continue finding ways to reach the target.”
Lacson noted that some farmers, particularly those cultivating irrigated farms, are already achieving higher yields.
However, he said rain-fed farms continue to pull down the provincewide average because of their dependence on weather conditions.
“What brings us really down is our farms dependent on rain. That’s what brings down our general average,” he said.
As part of efforts to address productivity and ensure the availability of quality planting materials, Lacson led the ceremonial distribution of farm inputs under the provincial government’s Support to Binhi sa Probinsya program at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Assisted by Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola and Provincial Seed Coordinator Mary Ann Ordinario, Lacson distributed 74 bags of rice seeds, 222 bags of fertilizer, and 111 sachets of biofertilizer to farmer associations from San Enrique, Pontevedra, Murcia, Himamaylan City, Isabela and Candoni.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist conceptualized and implemented the program to strengthen the local rice seed industry by supporting the production of high-quality inbred rice seeds for local farmers.
Under the program, the recipient associations are required to return 10 bags of rice seeds per hectare to the provincial government after production.
These returned seeds will be used as planting materials in future cropping seasons, including for farmers affected by calamities.
The remaining seeds may be used by the associations for commercial purposes, providing them with an additional source of income while expanding the availability of quality seeds in the province.
Lacson said the provincial government deliberately selected well-irrigated farm associations to ensure that the seed production component would be successful.
“We choose farm associations that are well irrigated just to guarantee that we will be able to produce the seeds that we need for the future,” he said.
The initiative is expected to enhance farm productivity while building a sustainable supply of locally produced quality rice seeds, ultimately contributing to the province’s goal of increasing its rice sufficiency level. ||
