Rice, corn production in WV up in 2006
Rice and corn production in the region registered a dramatic increase in the year 2006 contributing 12 per cent to the national production.
This was revealed by Department of Agriculture (DA) OIC-Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales over the weekend.
Nacionales said, rice production in Western Visayas increased from 1.8 million metric tons in 2005 to some 2 million metric tons in 2006. The rice production marked a 9 percent increase.
In the corn production, the region was able to produce 250,000 metric tons of corn in 2006. It is 33 percent higher compared in 2005. The corn production for 2005 is only 193,000 metric tons.
In last Friday's information caravan on rice and corn 2007, Nacionales said with the increase in the rice and corn production, the sufficiency level of Western Visayas posted as high as 113 percent. The region's contribution of 12 percent to the national production was already a big help.
Some 400 farmers attended the information caravan. In the same gathering, farmers sought clarifications on issues, policies and technology of the government in its rice and corn program.
The increase in rice and corn production could be attributed to the cooperation of the farmers and same time with the use of hybrid rice and corn seeds.
At the national government, Director Frisco Malabanan, of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) hopes to attain a five to six percent increase in the rice and corn production in 2007. He counted much in the region's contribution to the palay production of the country.
The region has contributed 4.96 percent in the palay production of the country in 2006. The department is pushing for the growth in agricultural sector through the implementation of different programs for farmers who are into rice and corn production.