BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Amid fears of a global food shortage between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, Bago City in Negros Occidental aims to increase its rice production.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo urged rice farmers to improve their production per hectare.
“Our standard is four tons per hectare. Through the years may 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 [tons]. Indi ta dapat mag untat da. Dapat lab-uton ta gid kay Thailand is producing eight tons per hectare,” Yulo pointed out.
Every year, Yulo said, Bago City is recognized by the Department of Agriculture because of its consistency in high rice production and other agricultural products.
“It’s only there nga makasigurado ka sang food security mo, kag competitive ang farmer, that is an incentive for the farmer,” Yulo said.
Bago City is also offering support services to rice producers in terms of technology, certified seeds, and equipment for modern practices.
Yulo added there are no other solutions in reaching the goal of increasing rice production output but mechanizing their rice industry.
Bago City currently supplies at least a third or around 27 to 30 percent of Negros Occidental’s rice needs./PN
