Non-traditional farming feasible in Mindanao – DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking at nontraditional farming areas particularly in Mindanao that can potentially be improved as it moves toward alleviating poverty and hitting self-sufficiency in rice over the next three years.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the DA would divert its attention to areas that are not prone to typhoons, instead of the traditional farming areas in Luzon.

“What’s happening right now is a grim reminder for us to really review our agricultural planning and consider the fact it may no longer be wise for us to focus our resources alone in the traditional farming areas such as Bicol and Northern Luzon because of the intensity and frequency of typhoons,” Piñol said in a chance interview.

He, however, clarified the agency was not abandoning the traditional farming areas.

“It’s sad to say this, but if we are really hoping to be able to fill up the gap in our food sufficiency program, we should look elsewhere,” Piñol said.

The agri chief is considering Palawan and the Mindanao provinces including Samar, Agusan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao and the Soccksargen.

“According to the color-coded map, Samar is a potential rice production area due to the availability of water and land,” he said.

The DA has started the colorcoded Agriculture Guide Map which will determine the crops or agricultural activities best in a specific area based on geographic, climatic and soil type conditions.

He said Basilan and TawiTawi are also potential areas due to lesser threats of climatic disturbances.

“Soccksargen, Davao and Zamboanga have a huge potential because these areas have quite slow acceptance of the hybrid seeds technology. If we are able to convince our farmers to embrace hybrid then we can expect a spike in rice production,” Piñol said.