RICE producing areas in Western Visayas are expected to get an increase in their harvest this season by posting 2.09 metric tons this year, an agriculture official said.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Director Larry Nacionales bared this recently after field reports showed an unprecedented increase in rice production.

What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers

Nacionales said the good indicator is the standing crops coupled with enough water supply. The crops, he said, were planted in November to December, and will be harvested in January and February next year.

Western Visayas has some 309,212 hectares for rice production, yet the climatic condition is not suitable for other crops such as corn, fruits and vegetables.

Nacionales said the National Government is allocating more funds to farm extension services and hard infrastructures this year and 2009.

He said the National Government will also shy away from soft intervention like farm inputs subsidies, but will focus on the implementation of fertilizer, irrigation, extension, loans, dryers and seeds (Fields) programs.

Fields will be a nationwide program for rice production areas, and the DA regional office will be given a P300-million allotment from the President's budget for the program.

The government is also increasing its incentive from P500 to P2,000 per month, starting July this year to municipal extension workers; P2,500 to the municipal agriculture officer; and P3,000 to the provincial agriculture officer.

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete.

(November 27, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.