Food sufficiency program in Eastern Samar attainable - OPAS

By Alicia E. Nicart

Saturday 9th of June 2012

BORONGAN CITY, EASTERN SAMAR, June 9 (PIA) -- Regalado Opena, Provincial Agriculturist here said that the targeted food sufficiency program of Governor Conrado Nicart Jr. is attainable.

In 2010, he said that there was a 69-percent sufficiency level that increased to 78 percent in 2011. For 2015, Office of the Provincial Agricultural Services or Agriculture Office (OPAS) projects a 90 percent food sufficiency level.

Opena attributes this big increase in Palay production to the incentive which Gov. Nicart introduced to the farmers. He said that with the Provincial Rice Production Enhancement Program (PRPEP), the farmers had more production.

He said that this continuing PRPEP allows a farmer a P12,000 plus worth of fertilizers for every hectare of riceland, be it rain-fed or irrigated.

He added that should a farmer produce a hundred bags of rice or more for every hectare plantation, he will not be obliged to pay the P12,000 for the fertilizer.

“This was what we observed. Maybe it was because of this input assistance that most farmers have increased their harvest which in turn contributed largely in our target to increase food production,” he said.

Using the DA certified seeds, most farmers in Dolores to the north and Quinapondan to the south are enjoying the two-cropping season of palay. (aen-PIA 8, Eastern Samar)