TABUK, Kalinga -- Despite of a decrease in the coffee and rice production, the rice granary of the Cordillera remains sufficient.
Engineer Domingo Bakilan, Kalinga Provincial agriculturist said in 2017, rice production is at 4.8 metric tons (MT) per hectare which decreased in 2018 with the productivity rate of the province reaching 4.6 MT per hectare, however, this is still high compared to the national average of 4.2 MT.
Bakilan added Kalinga only contributes 0.2 percent in the country’s rice production.
The municipalities of Rizal and Tanudan together with Tabuk City are the province top rice producers.
With its rice production, the provincial government earlier received a letter from the Department of Agriculture that Kalinga is again shortlisted of the provinces in the country in the top 10 in the category B for the rice achievers award.
To recall, the province was hailed as a three time national rice achievers award in category B in 2012, 2013, 2017.
Aside from rice, Kalinga is also one of the top coffee growers in the region where some 7,000 hectares are devoted to coffee.
Bakilan added in a bid to improve the province’s coffee production, a P217 million worth of farm to market road was constructed covering eight barangays between Pinkupuk and Balbalan towns.
The official meanwhile said the province needs to address the convertion of coffee farms into corn plantations.
“Although we encourage not to do that, however that is their option,” added Bakilan.
In addition, to address challenges on climate change, he cited plans of rejuvenation and to slowly irrigate coffee plantation sites.
Studies reveal rejuvenation makes coffee bean yield 100 percent.