Top rice producers to be feted

Saturday, February 4, 2012

THE Department of Agriculture is set to honor the country’s top achievers in rice production in the first ever 2011 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards on February 10, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala will lead the ceremonies to award P4 million worth of agricultural projects each to the top 10 rice-producing provinces, and P1-million worth of similar projects to the top 50 municipalities and 10 irrigators’ associations (IAs).

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Some 157 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) will also be awarded with P20,000 in cash each in recognition of their efforts to increase rice production in the country.

The 10 winning provinces are Ilocos Norte, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur.

The winning municipalities and cities include 12 from Cagayan Valley Region; nine from Central Luzon Region; seven from Western Visayas Region; six from Central Visayas Region; three each from Mimaropa Region, Eastern Visayas Region, and Davao Region; two each from Northern Mindanao Region and Caraga Region, and one each from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Calabarzon Region.

For agricultural extension workers, a total of 14 will be awarded from the Cordillera Administrative Region, one from Ilocos Region, 19 from Cagayan Valley Region, 29 from Central Luzon Region, one from Calabarzon Region, 16 from Mimaropa Region, 32 from Western Visayas Region, 10 from Central Visayas Region, 18 from Eastern Visayas Region, six from Northern Mindanao Region, nine from Davao Region, and two from Caraga Region.

The contest aims to recognize and encourage the full participation of local government units, IAs, and AEWs in rice production and help the country attain rice self–sufficiency by 2013. (Adam O. Borja)