The Department of Agriculture (DA), in cooperation with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), brought together top achievers in the rice industry for the 2018 Rice Achievers Awards (RAA) on May 30, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Seven provinces, 15 municipalities/cities, eight Irrigators’ Associations (IAs), and six Small Water Irrigation Systems Associations (SWISA) received awards including P54-million worth of prizes during the ceremony.
Around 500 agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and local farmer technicians (LFTs) were also given merit and recognition for their outstanding contributions in rice farming in separate ceremonies within their respective regions. Thirteen provinces, 10 IAs, and seven SWISAs will, likewise, received special prizes from the Awards.
The RAA is an annual event headed by the DA, through the National Rice Program, ATI, National Irrigation Administration, and Bureau of Soils and Water Management. Established in 2012, the Awards aim to celebrate innovations and technologies in the rice industry as key in attaining food security and sustainability in the country.
Senator Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food attended this year’s awarding ceremonies. Key officials of the Department were also present during the prestigious gathering.
Top rice-producing provinces: Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Compostela Valley were awarded with P4-million worth of cash prize. Moreover, Tarlac, Pampanga, Camarines Norte, and Davao del Sur received special awards.
Provinces that qualified for the Technical Paper Presentation, including Pangasinan, Isabela, Cagayan, Bulacan, Kalinga, La Union, Bataan, Sorsogon, and Davao del Norte were also awarded.
Outstanding municipalities and cities include Rizal, Kalinga; Manaoag, Pangasinan; Cauayan City, Isabela; Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija; Siniloan, Laguna; Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; San Jose, Camarines Sur; Bago City, Negros Occidental; Talibon, Bohol; Culaba, Biliran; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; Valencia City, Bukidnon; Compostela, Compostela Valley; Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. These 15 municipalities and cities each received P1 million cash prize.
Similarly, the top IAs were given P1-million worth of cash prize, while the outstanding SWISAs received P500,000 each.
The winners include Regta IA Inc. in Isabela; Tambulig Balugo Farmer IA in Zamboanga del Sur; Kahaponan Valencia City IA, Inc. in Bukidnon; BNBL IA Inc. in Cotabato; Bayawan United Farmers IA, Inc. in Negros Oriental; Dilapa-Mibantang-Sta. Cruz Communal IA, Inc. in Bukidnon; San Luis Farmers IA in Davao Oriental; and Cacea-Guihao-An IA, Inc. in Agusan del Norte.
Top SWISAs include Buted Water Impounding IA in Nueva Ecija; SWISA of Paetan Interior Spring in Occidental Mindoro; Kuta Pawa SWISA, Inc. in Sorsogon; San Roque IA in Bohol; Baas Farmers Association, Inc. in Leyte; and Gawil SWISA Inc. in Zamboanga del Sur.
“We are thankful that our perseverance, persistence, and capability to lead our fellow farmers have been recognized. The high production that we attained was brought about by the farming machineries, training, appropriate seeds, and irrigation provided by the different agencies under DA and the provincial government of Bukidnon. We are deeply grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte, Agriculture Secretary Manny F. Piñol, and other national and local government officials who have supported us towards this achievement,” Kahaponan Valencia City IA, Inc. President Rebecca Caro said.
Through the annual RAA, the DA underscores the vital role of rice farmers in driving growth towards the national goal of food availability and affordability for Filipinos.
Moreover, the Department sees the enactment of the Rice Tariffication Law as an opportunity to strengthen its programs and services to help local farmers become more competent. Through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, the DA plans to provide free certified seeds to farmers and build additional units of solar-powered irrigation system that aims to irrigate 500,000 hectares.
Despite the drop in rice production in 2018, with only 19.05 million metric tons compared with 19.28 million metric tons in 2017, Piñol remains positive that the country will meet its target for rice self-sufficiency.
“We will be able to achieve rice sufficiency,” the agriculture chief declared. ### (story by ATI/photo by Ardy Tompong, DA-AFID)
