Capiz cited as one of RP's top rice producers
Roxas City--Rice production, which is included in the priority development thrusts of Gov. Vicente Bermejo, has brought another national recognition to the province of Capiz.
In its report to the provincial government, the Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) confirmed that Capiz is one of the top ten provinces in the country in terms of rice production during the period 2001-2005.
Ronald Amigo, Administrative Officer IV of the provincial government, disclosed that PhilRice listed Capiz as No. 9 in terms of volume of production in the circle of 10 that includes the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Tarlac.
The PhilRice report also noted that Capiz made a steady increase in rice production for five years, 2001-2005.
Amigo pointed out that this steady increase in rice production coincided with the implementation of "Binhian sa Barangay," a program of the provincial government implemented by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist since 2000. The program is implemented every two years involving 4,000 farmers each time.
Using the certified seeds distributed under the program, a farmer from Cuartero town, Roberto Esportuno was able to produce 35 bags from 5 kilograms of the high-quality seeds.
The Binhian sa Barangay is a prototype program developed under the administration of Gov. Bermejo that provides for the distribution of free certified seeds to farmers, promotion and advocacy of organic farming, and provision of technical training to farmers, stressed Amigo.
The province has 49,015 hectares of ricefarms of which 14,450 has. are irrigated and 34,565 has. are rainfed. Available data showed that the province's rice output during the five-year period reached some 1.2 metric tons.
(PIA)