DA – Rice sufficiency anticipated before end of year 2013

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Rice sufficiency in the country is expected to be achieved before the end of 2013, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala announced here over the weekend.

Alcala, who recently visited Jolo, Sulu, and Zamboanga City, disclosed that the DA is initiating appropriate measures to increase production and attain its cereal generation goal within three years.

Among these steps, Alcala said, include improving and building more irrigation systems, developing better variety of seeds, production of enough post-harvest facilities like dryers, and conducting more training and seminars to farmers.

“On the training of farmers, they will be taught about the conventional and organic system of farming,” Alcala added.

He said he has directed all DA field officials to give top priority in increasing the production of the staple food so that the Philippines will decrease its dependency on rice importation from Vietnam and Thailand, whose agricultural technicians ironically learned the latest farm techniques in rice production from the Philippines, particularly from the Los Baños, Laguna-based International Rice and Research Institute (IRRI). (Tony Pe. Rimando)

(Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/306890/da-rice-sufficiency-anticipated-end-year-2013)