by: Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA) – Zamboanga del Sur rice production coordinator Jose Agad, Jr. of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) this week revealed , the province has produced more than enough supply of rice.
Agad said, last year local farmers harvested some 288,724 metric tons of rice involving more than 68,426 hectares of riceland in the entire province. If only our people in the province will consume this bountiful harvest, it would be more than enough even if each person will eat at least 6 times in a day, Agad quipped.In the Zamboanga Peninsula region, Zamboanga del Sur has the widest land area of riceland covering some 34,514 hectares including rain-fed farmlands.
With the full support of the provincial government headed by Governor Antonio Cerilles farmers are encouraged to adopt the new technology using the organic agriculture which is now being spread out in the province also known as the organic farming, Agad said.
Through this technology, farmers are also persuaded not to use anymore chemicals or in-organic fertilizers in their farm. He pointed out, that one of these is the so-called rice-duck farming system, which is successfully implemented and is being called “May Bigas Na, May Ulam Pa.” This method also contributes much to solving our problem on global warming, Agad added.
Agad disclosed further that, majority of the farmers are now engaged in rice-duck farming because through this technology our produce will be chemical free and safe to eat and it also helps bring back the natural fertility of the soil.
This year, he said, the Department of Agriculture (DA)is set to provide the province with 558 bags of registered seeds to be distributed and planted by the members of the irrigators association and farmers association, so as they themselves will produce their own seeds for the succeeding planting seasons.
Agad said, these seeds will be given to farmers and for those who are interested to avail these registered seeds they may visit the nearest Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) in their locality and inquire about the program. (JPA/RLG/PGO/CAL/PIA9)
