BACOLOD City – More than 5,000 small farmers in Bago City, Negros Occidental which has been recognized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as one of the country’s top rice producers, have received certified rice seeds worth P17 million from the national and local governments from January to June this year.
Data as of Thursday showed about 15,000 bags of certified seeds, weighing 20 kg. each, were released by the DA to identified rice farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program.
Through the city government’s palay subsidy program, 4,000 bags, each containing 40 kg. of certified seeds, were also distributed.
City Agriculturist Carlito Indencia said they provide farmers with quality seeds to increase their palay (unhusked rice) production.
“Based on research, at least 10 percent increase in production is expected when using certified rice seeds,” he said.
Bago City, located just south of Bacolod, has been dubbed the “rice granary of Negros Occidental” for being a top rice producer.
From 2018 to 2020, the city surpassed its target of 4.4 metric tons (MT) per hectare after hitting a production output of 4.43 MT to 4.47 MT during the period.
Indencia said they are looking to bounce back this year after a slight decrease in average yield in 2021 due to several calamities that hit Negros Occidental.
As part of its farm mechanization program, the city government has also distributed PHP26 million worth of farm machinery and equipment, such as combine harvesters, transplanter machines, and tractors, in the past four years.
At least 20 associations composed of small or marginal rice farmers have benefited from the program.
“This is to address the lack of farm laborers. Another advantage is that work becomes faster when a farm is mechanized,” Indencia said.
Through the extension services program, the City Agriculture Office also provides technical assistance and training to farmers in using technology and adopting farm practices that will boost their rice yield.
Currently, more than 4,000 rice farmers in Bago are enrolled in various crop insurance programs, including the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture and the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program.
For the first time in 2017, Bago was among the DA’s Rice Achievers and the only local government unit awardee from Western Visayas during that year. (PNA/PN)
