Aiming to increase rice production, the Department of Agrarian Reform through
its Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project III
(ARISP),
implemented a Hybrid Rice Production Project in
Ilocos Norte.
The
project, which was carried out by the San Roque Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (ARC) at the Cabaroan Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), was designed to improve rice
yield through the use of hybrid seeds, organic fertilizer and appropriate farm technologies.
It was implemented in three phases: the first
phase was a production of hybrid rice in an area of 18.25 hectares with 67
farmer beneficiaries; the second phase involved an increased area of 36.5
hectares with 69 farmer-beneficiaries; and the third phase was rice production
in 38.5 hectares with 72 farmer beneficiaries.
Farmer beneficiaries or cooperators are
agrarian reform beneficiaries who are members of the cooperative in good
standing and owners of area of tillage of not less than 0.5 hectares.
These cooperators were given enhancement
training on hybrid rice production conducted through the assistance of the
Department of Agriculture in coordination with the local government unit.
After the training, each cooperator received
a loan in the form of inputs like pesticides, organic fertilizers and inorganic
fertilizers, like urea 46-0-0, 14-14-14, 16-20-0 and 0-0-60.
Based on the area of tillage, the highest
amount of loan per cooperator was P8,720, while the lowest was P3,460. In
addition, each cooperator was given five fruit tree seedlings to be planted in
their backyards.
The farmer beneficiaries were also given
training on management capability, recording skills, monitoring and the conduct
of enterprise development activities. This training helped them update their
books of account and prepare their financial statements and other mandatory
reports.
Because of this project, each cooperator was
able to increase his income from an average of P3,200 per hectare to an average
of P20,500 per hectare.
The farmers were also able to improve their
knowledge on cultural management technology on hybrid rice production and
utilization of irrigation facilities which resulted in the increase of farm
yield from 80 cavans per hectare to 120 cavans per hectare.
This project now serves as the “demonstration
farm” for other farmers who want to replicate the system in their own farms and
receive the same profit. Its end result is not only beneficial to the
cooperators but it also pours advantage to all communities dependent on rice
production.
***
BARD NOTES: Happy bard-reading to Mayor Chevylle
FariƱas, Vice Mayor Michael V. FariƱas, Provincial Treasurer Josephine
Calajate, INWD General Manager John Teodoro, Dr. Miramar Bumanglag and PNB
Laoag Branch Manager Metty V. Guerrero.
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