Davao Region tops Rice Achievers Awards
DAVAO Region bagged the major awards during the 2016 Rice Achievers Award (RAA) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City on Tuesday.
Compostela Valley Province made it to the roster of outstanding province in rice production based on its increased yield of 4.14 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) from 3.86 MT/ha in 2015. This increase was due to the province vulnerability to the impact of climate change.
The province received P4 million cash grants which will be used to further enhance rice production in their province.
The Province of Davao Oriental also received a trophy and P500,000 cash prize as finalist in the outstanding province category, and was also recognized for their notable efforts in improving local rice production.
The town of Hagonoy in Davao del Sur was also recognized as one outstanding producer for the municipal category. The town was cited for its wide adoption of hybrid varieties with notable increment from 6.62 MT/ha in 2015 to 6.77 MT/ha in 2016.
Under the outstanding irrigators category, two out of the four winners came from Davao region namely Pagsabangan Tagum Farmers Irrigators Association (Patafia) from Tagum City, Davao del Norte and Batinao Cabacungan Sto. Niño Irrigators Farmers Association, Inc. in New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province. Both received P1 million each.
Eleven outstanding agricultural extension workers (AEW’s) and one local farmer technician (LFT) from Davao region were also recognized and received P20,000 each.
“The success of our rice production in the region serves as an inspiration for other farmers and extension workers to emulate,” said OIC-Regional Director Ricardo Oñate.
“We hope that the recognition along with cash incentives, our rice farmers and LGU partners will continue to aspire for a more robust rice production that could further boost food security and sufficiency in our region if not our country,” Oñate added.
He also said DA will always support their efforts in improving productivity that could make food available and affordable for all.
RAA is an annual search that started in 2011, aims to capture the impact of DA’s rice production program interventions towards achieving rice selfsufficiency.