DA to implement 'Rice Productivity Enhancement Project'

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2016/07/26/da-implement-rice-productivity-enhancement-project-487729
• Sunday, July 31, 2016

By Abigail Viguella

THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Northern Mindanao will execute the Rice Productivity Enhancement (Ripe) project this year in the region, the agency announced in a press conference held at the MASSSPECC Cooperative Development Center on Monday, July 25.

“This program is part of the new administration’s aim to help the agricultural sector of the country to significantly increase the yield of rice in the Philippines” said DA Regional Director Lealyn Ramos.

The main feature of the project will be the usage of the hybrid rice seed in order to produce better harvest in both wet and dry season.

Ramos said that for the first two seasons of the program, the government, through the Department of Agriculture, will provide assistance to the farmers with regards to the hybrid seeds that will be used.

“The government will provide the hybrid seeds to the farmers in the pilot seasons of the program. Furthermore, financial assistance for the seeds and the fertilizers will be provided amounting to 10,000 pesos during the wet season and 15,000 pesos during the dry season” added Ramos.

The farmers shall have to make bank accounts in order for them to receive the financial assistance.

Ramos also discussed that the program shall only cover 25 percent land area of every farmer during the wet season and 58 percent in the dry season for the first few seasons. This is to allow adjustment for the farmers who use other types of seeds such as the inbred seeds and the good seeds.

Just this month, DA Secretary Manny Piñol discussed the Ripe program to DA employees for the project’s execution in the country.

“It has now become a must for this country to achieve sufficiency in rice and other basic food commodities. It is no longer a choice.” Seceratary Piñol pointed out. With the implementation of the Ripe, the government expects that the country will be able to avoid shortage of rice due to climate change and other environmental calamities.

Piñol called for a comprehensive review of water management and irrigation policies, the conduction of a nationwide soil analysis, an extensive program to improve rice farming technology, the introduction of high-yielding rice varieties, effective soil rehabilitation and fertilizer program, and modern and post-harvest facilities to minimize losses.

It is estimated that the program would achieved its full effect by year 2019.