BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine Rice Research Institute in Agusan (PhilRice-Agusan) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday recognized the contributions of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program in the increase of rice production in the Caraga Region from 2019 to 2021.
In a press briefing at the Go Hotel here, the PhilRice-Agusan highlighted the impacts of the RCEF program on the lives of rice farmers in the region in the last three years.
PhilRice-Agusan covers the areas of Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao Region), and Region 13 (Caraga).
In Caraga, PhilRice-Agusan covers the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
“As we approach the third year of implementation of the RCEF, we find it very timely to update the media on the handful of initiatives which all carry one goal, and that is service to our local farmers,” PhilRice-Agusan Branch Director Caesar Joventino Tado said.
He said RCEF is a fund created under the Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act No. 11203 that lifted the quantitative restrictions on the importation of rice and replaced the same with tariff.
A total of PHP10 billion fund from the tariffs imposed on rice importation is allocated yearly in the RCEF program from 2019 to 2024.
“Of the PHP10 billion funding every year, PHP5 billion is allocated to farm mechanization, PHP3 billion is allocated to PhilRice, PHP1 billion to the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines, and PHP1 billion to the different agencies, including the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for training and extension services,” Tado said.
He said RCEF aims to increase the utilization of certified inbred rice seeds for increased rice production.
Data provided by PhilRice-Agusan showed the increase in rice yields in Caraga from 2019 to 2021 during the wet and dry seasons.
During the wet season for the past three years, an increase of 3.64 metric tons (MT) per hectare in rice production in the region was recorded in 2019, 3.70 MT in 2020, and 3.87 in 2021.
During the dry season for the same period, increases of 3.74 MT, 3.84 MT, and 4.21 MT were also recorded in rice production in the region.
The wet season starts from March 16 and ends September 15 while the dry season covers September 16 to March 15 of every year, the PhilRice-Agusan said.
The agency also reported that a total of 145,629 bags of certified inbred rice seeds were distributed in Caraga during the wet season last year benefitted 45,466 rice farmers.
A total of 69,817 hectares of farmlands in the region were also devoted to certified inbred rice farming during the period. (PNA)
SOURCE: https://www.pna.gov.ph
