Sun Star, Bacolod

ByErwin P. Nicavera
MURCIA – The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has an average annual budget allocation of at least P20 million for its Visayas operations, and about 80 percent of the fund goes to Negros Occidental.

Edgar Libetario, acting director of PhilRice Negros, said this is because the center here covers Regions 6, 7 and 8 thus, more personnel are needed.

Negrense farmers mostly avail of the programs, he added.

In terms of seed technology, Libetario said Negros Occidental is the top user in the Visayas, utilizing 65 percent of the total seeds produced.

“The availability of quality seeds in Negros Occidental is therefore higher compared to other provinces in Visayas,” he said, adding that this further results to more developments in the local rice industry.

PhilRice records showed that the province’s current degree of rice self- sufficiency is higher compared to previous years.

This can be attributed to the programs implemented by PhilRice and its strong partnership with the provincial government, Libetario said.

The provincial government’s quest for the establishment of PhilRice Visayas in Negros is an advantage, he added.

“Negrenses now are much aware of the rice production scenario. Local farmers have better performance in crop management, utilization of rice produced, and investing on facilities that would increase the efficiency of output,” Libetario also said.

As a result, Negros Occidental is now one of the highest average yielding provinces in the country.

It has even the highest average yield in terms of per hectare per cropping basis compared to the rest of the provinces in Western Visayas.