Puerto Princesa City – Palawan Gov. Pepito Alvarez has pledged an expansion area of 100,000 hectares for the country’s rice production program.
The new area is on top of the existing 59,000 hectares of rice farms which is providing the island-province a 110% rice self-sufficiency.
Gov. Alvarez, however, asked.the Department of Agriculture to help address the problem of a highly-acidic soil in Palawan which results in very low rice production in the province.
He also emphasized the need for more irrigation facilities without necessarily constructing dams which would destroy the natural beauty of the province which is a popular tourist destination.
On the way to Brooke’s Point today for the Biyaheng Bukid Forum with farmers and fishermen, I also noticed the lack of modern farm equipment.
A check of a rice farm I passed by along the way showed that the farmers are still using poor quality seeds.
I have immediately acted on these issues.
During my meeting with Gov. Alvarez yesterday, I called up PhilRice executive director Dr. Sailila Abdulla to form a team along with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management to conduct an extensive soil analysis in Palawan.
For the environment-friendly irrigation system, I instructed Regional Director Boy Santiago to program the establishment of Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) which will draw water from the rivers without having to build dams.
Director Santiago was also instructed to procure more tractors, power tillers, harvesters, dryers and rice processing facilities for Palawan.
Farmers will also be convinced to use hybrid seeds using as incentives the provision of fertilizers.
The availability of new rice farming areas in Palawan offers a relief to the problem besetting the country’s rice production as traditional rice farming areas are affected by climate change.
Palawan will be among the provinces outside of the typhoon path in the Western part of the country which could be developed into major food production areas.
(First three photos show the ricefields in Nara, Palawan taken by Bong Piñol. Other photos show the meeting with Gov. Alvarez taken by Engr. Nicyl Barrete)
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