An official of the Department of Agriculture is
confident that farmers can profit P1 million per hectare a year by optimizing
their time and using alternative energy resources.
Dr.
Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., executive director of Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice), said that out of 365 days in a year, Filipino farmers work for
about 110-220 days in growing rice, leaving a “free time” of 145 days.
“If the
farmer uses the by-products of rice production such as rice hull and rice straw
for producing mushrooms, fertilizer, feeds, and energy, among others, then a P1
million income is not impossible. Compare that with the estimated P50,000 per
year net profit that a typical farmer typically earns, much below the poverty
level,” he said.
Addressing
PhilRice awardees during its recent 28th anniversary, Rasco said
that rice researchers and development workers must provide the technology and
support for farmers to gain the million profit.
“Let us
inspire our farmers to dream big, teach [them] well, and continue learning
ourselves so that we can be better teachers. The first lesson that we can give
to the farmer is simple: P1 million is possible,” the plant breeder and
academician said.
In
helping farmers cut on energy cost, PhilRice recently launched the Farming
without fossil fuel program, which aims to develop alternative and renewable
energy sources and inputs for rice and rice-based farming applications.
Rasco,
now on his second year as executive director, further said that a
knowledge-based technology and policy interventions will prepare farmers for
the free trade in 2015. Under a free trade system, flow of goods including
rice, services, investment, capital, and skilled labor among the countries that
form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be marketed to the county.
Saying
that PhilRice policy study is on track, Rasco mentioned the Institute’s socio-economic division is
conducting benchmark studies in rice exporting countries in Asia to identify
what makes them competitive in the market.
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