Agri office grants P36M for rice terraces restoration

Sunday, February 19, 2012

THE Agriculture department is taking the lead role in restoring the Batad rice terraces badly hit by Typhoon Pedring last year.

Department of Agriculture (DA)-Cordillera Executive Director Marilyn Sta. Catalina recently reported that the agency is funding P23.89 million of the total P36-million budget allocated for the repair of the eroded portion of the Unesco world heritage site.

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The project entitled “Emergency Assistance for the Restoration of the Batad Rice Terraces” was approved by DA Assistant Secretary Dante Delima when he visited Ifugao last month.

It involves the restoration of 8,700 cubic meters of eroded stone wall and rehabilitation of 2.5 kilometers of irrigation covering 106 hectares or 158 rice paddies.

The project will also reforest 25 hectares of watershed expecting to increase forest cover, establish a barangay nursery, improve five kilometers of farm to market road and construct and rehabilitate other facilities.

Aside from the fund, Delima released P10,000 cash assistance, 10 sacks of rice, 100 kilos of mung bean and 10 kilos of dried fish for the community Bayanihan activities.

Last February 8, technical staff from the DA National Rice Program met with Ifugao officials to discuss improvements of the terraces that aim at increase rice production, boost tourism, increase farmer’s income, and strengthen convergence initiatives, among others.

The agency is also geared toward extending production support that includes giving technical assistance on farmers through community seed banking, soil and water conservation strategies and establishment of nursery for indigenous agro tree species.

The Agriculture department will also construct a Rice Heritage Museum in the area that will focus on the history, growth and propagation of indigenous and organic rice varieties in the famed rice terraces.