The Upland Rice Development Program aims to promote sustainable farming
systems and practices in the upland farming communities that will help farmers
increase their yields and income, and to
develop a sustainable models of locally organized Community-based Seed Banks
(CSB) and a viable seed production system.
Gilbert Romarez of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)
said,
the country’s production capacity is only averaging from 1.5
to 2.0 tons per hectare. If this marginalized upland rice farms will be
given the proper technology and assistance, it is estimated that its yield will
increase to 4.0 to 4.5 t/ha which is significant enough to complement the
production in the lowland and irrigated areas.
Some areas like Region 10 have shown that with the improved
management technologies with Traditional Varieties (TVs) its production of 4.16t/ha
was increased to 6.5 t/ha and with
Modern Varieties (MVs) from 3.13t/ha to 6.7 t/ha.
Ruben Miranda,
National URDP leader said, that “the establishment of CSB will help solve the
lack of seed problem, utilization of quality seeds and accessibility of seeds.”
The National URDP is strengthening its program by creating
regional Agri-Pinoy URDP team that will lead in the regions. The team is headed
by the DA Regional Director and representatives coming from DA, PhilRice, IRRI,
ATI, BSWM, NSQCS, BAS, NFA, PCIC, DENR, DAR, DSWD, Landbank, SUCs, NGOs, NCIP,
PLGUs, MLGUs, CLGUs and Upland Farmers’ Organizations (UFOs).
Each agency was given their tasks as to their roles and
responsibilities in the URDP Agri-Pinoy. The regions’s target for
2011-2013 is 6,169 hectares. (ytavellaneda/DA9/cal/PIA9)