BACOLOD City – The City of Bago, one of the country’s top rice producers, is helping its farmers become more efficient amid the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Act.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo said under the rice tariff system, necessary interventions from the local government are needed.
“Our goal is really to make our farmers more efficient for them to compete with those in neighboring countries,” he said.
Bago City, tagged as the rice bowl of Negros Occidental, was awarded for the second straight year as one of the top rice-producing local government units in the country during the 2018 Rice Achievers Awards last May 30.
“More than the award, we aim to strengthen our production mainly to prepare for the possible adverse effects of the rice tariffication measure,” Yulo said.
Under rice tariffication, the goal should be the lowest production cost with a maximized yield, he added.
The City Agriculture Office data showed that Bago City has a total palay production of 119,528 metric tons in 2018 from a harvested area of 11,879 hectares.
Its average yield per hectare increased from 4.2 metric tons in 2017 to 4.43 metric tons last year.
From the previous 20 percent, the city now contributes 25 percent to the total rice production of Negros Occidental.
Yulo attributed their latest achievement to education, transfer of technology and mechanization.
“We are on this path already. We have felt the initial effects of our efforts especially on farm mechanization,” he said. (With a report from PNA/PN)
Did the author find out the average cost of production in Bago City in pesos per kilogram? Knowing the cost of production will give other farmers a basis on how to manage their farm efficiently.