‘Rice in MisOr not sufficient’

Pacamalan says MisOr still relies on Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon for rice supply

THE Provincial Agriculture Office (Pagro) of Misamis Oriental has seen the need to improve the rice sufficiency level in Misamis Oriental for the next five years.

According to Pagro Head Jose Apollo Pacamalan, the rice sufficiency level of Misamis Oriental reached 16 to 19 percent at present.

“Right now, we are dependent to other areas like Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon,” Pacamalan said.

Pacamalan said the areas that needs intervention are the mechanization of production, harvesting, processing and packaging.

“Sa ngayon kasi, hindi masyadong organized yung mechanization program. So, we need to organize it in such a way, even in terms of plowing and transplanting,” he said, adding that its most needed in areas where there’s a lack of labor force.

He added that they also have to look for the appropriated machines to be used for harvesting.

Apart from the mechanization, Pagro also noted the lack of drying facilities as some were turned into covered courts.

“Next year, ang intervention ng

Provincial Government will focus on mechanization, drying facilities, market facilitation looking at packaging our rice at tsaka yung storage ng rice natin,” Pacamalan said.

“Only the challenge now with government, especially National Government, the Department of Agriculture, is to look at sufficiency level. Nobody is looking at the sufficiency level at the provincial, only the municipal level. It should be the target of the National Government so that we, as local government in the foot soldier of the Department of Agriculture, should work on the sufficiency target,” he added.

In order to achieve the target 100 percent rice sufficiency by 2024, the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, through the Pagro, is working with various agencies and groups such as the Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, Misamis Oriental Farmers’ Association and the First Community Credit Cooperative.