Western Visayas projects higher rice production in 2009
Western Visayas is projected to produce higher rice production in 2009 as it is expected to surpass its target production of 2.09 million metric tons this year.
Agriculture regional executive director for Western Visayas Larry Nacionales said the favorable weather condition this year has given farmers the chance to immediately plant again this November.
Of the 309,312 hectares of rice area in Western Visayas, around 250,000 hectares have been planted again which will be ready for harvest in January or February.
"This is a good indicator that we will have bigger production next year," he said.
As of last September, Nacionales said that rice production in the region has already reached 1.5 million metric tons.
He said that from January to June, 728,000 metric tons of rice were recorded, an increase of about 18 percent compared to 625,000 metric tons during the same period last year.
"Looking at the trend we can achieve our target production of 2.09 million metric tons this year," he added. (PNA)