THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Negros Island Region (NIR) is currently validating potential areas in the region that come become recipients of the Rice Program Model Farm (RPMF).
Joyce Wendam, officer-in-charge regional director of DA-NIR, said Secretary Emmanuel Piñol approved the implementation of the program during the meeting with bureau directors and top officials of DA in Manila last January 18.
Wendam said the program is aimed at maximizing the country's rice production, particularly in fully irrigated farms.
However, selected rain-fed areas with adequate water through small scale irrigation systems can also be included, she added.
“We have initially identified potential areas which are still subject for validation,” Wendam said, adding that Negros Occidental given its larger rice production areas is expected to have more number of recipients.
DA-NIR records showed that Negros Occidental currently has 126,057 hectares of rice farms.
It is bigger than Negros Oriental’s 21,952 hectares, records added.
Based on the agency’s initial listing, it is considering a 10-hectare site in Cadiz City.
This is on top of eight other sites of five hectares each in the towns of Hinoba-an, Toboso, Cauayan, Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava and San Enrique, and the cities of La Carlota and Silay.
In Negros Oriental, DA-NIR has identified two 10-hectare farms in Ayungon town and Bayawan City.
Another two irrigated lowland demonstration farms of five hectares each in Mabinay and Tanjay City are also being eyed.
Under the RPMF, the requirement is at least 10 hectares per farm cluster.
Since most farmers have small landholdings, DA will organize them into a 10-hectare farm cluster.
For NIR, the DA targets to cover 10 farm clusters comprising a total of 100 hectares of contiguous rice farms.
In terms of interventions, it will provide hybrid seeds, those that are best adapted and preferred by the farmers, to recipients.
Wendam said that aside from 15 to 18 kilograms per hectare hybrid seed distribution, the crop manager shall also be used to generate specific crop management recommendation.
Other technical assistance and farm interventions include fertilizers and soil ameliorants, she added.
“Farmer-recipients are required to attend briefings on hybrid rice production to qualify in the program,” Wendam said, adding that the DA is eyeing to fully implement the program by second half of the year, specifically on the onset of rainy season.