Certified seeds use hikes farmers' palay productivity
Roxas City -- The use of certified palay seeds has increased the production of farmers in Capiz since the provincial government introduced its "Binhian sa Barangay" project here in 2000.
With some 16,000 farmers using certified seeds as of now, the province has been enjoying a steady increase in its palay output at an average of 30 percent. This also has resulted in a high palay surplus level of the province or 110 percent since the binhian project came into being.
The project has been implemented every two years. Under the program, farmers are given 5 kilos of certified seeds plus a support package consisting of BIO N organic fertilizer, Leaf Color Chart, and farmers' training.
The 4th phase of the project culminated April 13, 2007 with a mass graduation of farmer-beneficiaries during the celebration of the 106th anniversary of the establishment of the civil government of the province of Capiz.
The charter anniversary was held April 13-15 and coincided with the April 15 death anniversary of Capiz's most illustrious son, Manuel Acuña Roxas, first President of the Philippine Republic.
The binhian project is part of the program in the Ten-Point Agenda of Gov. Vicente Bermejo which seeks to accelerate the modernization of the agricultural and fishery sectors as the backbone of the province's economy.
It is also in line with the present program of the national government to channel some of the gains from a surging economy to boost the agricultural sector to hike the productivity and income of farmers and improve their lives.
President Arroyo also said it would now be easy for government to pursue other projects on infrastructure, health and education because of the improvement in the economy and the accompanying increase in revenues that can be used to fund these projects.
The Chief Executive also said investors' confidence on the Philippines has been restored due to bright prospects coming in the way of the country brought about by the positive results of tough fiscal reforms adopted by the Arroyo administration such as the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) or the Reformed VAT.
(PIA)