By Leilanie G.
Adriano
Staff Reporter
Leading the way in
terms of rice sufficiency, the province of Ilocos Norte along with nine rice-producing
provinces in the country will receive P4 million each for winning the 2013
Agri-Pinoy Rice Achiever’s Award.
According to provincial
agriculturist Norma Lagmay this is the second time, Ilocos Norte has won as one
of the top 10 rice-producing communities nationwide, surpassing the province
rice production target with an excess of 183 percent.
Also, Laoag City and
of Vintar, along with 12 extension workers in the province led by Lagmay
will receive P1 million each for the city and municipal category and P20,000
for the individual outstanding extension workers for topping the
nationwide search.
The group is set
to receive the award and cash prizes in Metro Manila on March 14 with
President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III as guest speaker.
“God knows those
who labor hard, as the saying goes, let the end justifies the means. The
victory is ours and not only for few,” Lagmay said as the cash reward will be
utilized to help rice farmers improve their productivity.
She said Ilocos
Norte have recorded at least 286 percent rice sufficiency in 2013 or lower by
1.65 percent due to typhoon damages as compared to 2012 but still, the province
managed to be in the top 10.
Like in 2011 when
Ilocos Norte won again in the nationwide search, Lagmay said that the P2
million cash award was used to purchase new rice varieties and fertilizer to
ensure sustainable rice production.
The Agri-Pinoy
Rice Achiever’s Award was initiated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to
identify the top 10 rice producing communities in the country. The competition
is divided into three categories: Local Government Units (LGUs), Agricultural
Extension Workers (AEWs), and Irrigators Associations (IAs) for the regional
level and national level.
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