Kalinga bagged as top rice producer

MANILA – Kalinga was considered as one of the top rice-producing provinces in the Philippines when it won in three categories in the 2012 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Kalinga was in the Top Ten Provinces in the company of Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, La Union, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley and Zamboanga del Sur.

Tabuk City was among the 48 top towns and provinces and 12 of its agricultural extension workers (AEWs) were among the 13 AEWs from the province who made it to the Top 500 AEW list. The thirteenth AEW from the province who was recognized is from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Tabuk City and its AEWs were among those honored during the launching of the awards last year. This is the first time Kalinga made it to the top ten provinces circle.

Among the criteria for the selection of winners are the increase of rice production over the preceding year, amount allocated for rice production, use of quality seeds, existence of agricultural road maps, and number of personnel devoted to rice production.

Winners in the province and towns or cities categories of the awards get P4-million and P1-million project grants, respectively, while the winning AEWs are entitled to P20,000-cash incentives.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who was present during the awarding ceremonies at the Philippine International Convention Center in March 15, said that rice achievers awards aims to give recognition to those who work for rice self-sufficiency.

He said that due to the labors of farmers and the support of LGUs and the other government agencies assisting the agricultural sector, the rice output of the country has increased from 15.77-million metric tons in 2010 to 18.03-million metric tons in 2012.

As a result of the efforts towards rice self-sufficiency, the government has been able to decrease rice importation from the 2.45-million metric tons in 2010 to 500,000-metric tons last year, the secretary said.

He also stated that this year, the rice imports will reduced by more than half with the volume serving as buffer stock in time of dire need which may be brought about by climate change.