Capiz agriculture gains more strength despite El Niño report
ROXAS CITY – Rice production in Capiz province is still high despite the El Niño reported earlier by reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In a press release obtained by The News Today (TNT), provincial rice production data show that Capiz obtained a total production of 388,093.9 metric tons (MT) covering an area of 115,234.7 hectares and an average yield of 3.37 MT/ha (67.4 cavans) as of December 2009 as compared to that of previous year which was 372,808.2 MT covering an area of 113,2296 hectares and an average yield of 3.29MT/ha (65.8). It shows that Capiz will still be enjoying its rice sufficiency level.
Provincial Agriculturist Mrs. Sylvia V. de la Cruz said that farming activities in Capiz particularly rice production is still normal.
“For the past weeks up to this time, the province is experiencing continuous rain showers which offers favorable condition to rice farming. This can be attested by high demand of our farmers to avail of certified seeds,” De la Cruz said.
To date, 8,000 bags of subsidized certified seeds were released to 16 municipalities and city of Capiz through the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) and Certified (CS) Seed Subsidy program of the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Provincial and Municipal Governments of Capiz spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist
Accordingly, an increase in rice production is expected due to increase in areas planted on the later part of last year and this year. This positive outlook is reinforced by the strengthening and production support by the provincial government through the leadership of Governor Victor A. Tanco to the cluster farms in Capiz.
To date, there are fifty-five clusters established and maintained in the province. Plans to mitigate the adverse effects of El Niño in the agriculture and fishery sectors in the province were also crafted and ready to be implemented.
