DA HONORS TOP RICE PRODUCERS IN ANNUAL AGRI TILT

Agriculture Secretary expressed satisfaction over the steady transformation of the image of the Filipino farmers.

“Ako po ay natutuwa dahil this time nasusunod na ang ating pangarap. Sana dumating ang panahon na iba na ang imahe ng Pilipinong magsasaka,” Alcala said during the awarding ceremonies of the 2015 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards (APRAA).

Alcala added, that the government has slowly changed the usual image of Filipino farmers depicted in textbooks—wallowing in the drudgery of pulling his stubborn carabao in the field.

“This time, the image of Filipino farmers is one that uses modern technology and mechanization,” he explained.

Alcala considers farmers and farm workers at the local government level to be modern day heroes responsible for assuring the country’s food security.

Despite the onslaught of natural calamities that hit the country in recent years, the Philippines is recognized as one of the countries that has recorded the fastest gains of 2.8% increase in rice production from 2010 to 2015.

Under the Aquino administration with the combined efforts of hardworking farmers, local government units (LGUs), and DA, the country’s rice production in the past five years consistently surpassed 18 million metric tons (MMT).

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grains Authority, the Philippines posted the highest increment of harvest among rice producing countries in the world for the past five years.
Recognizing Filipino farmers' heroism
APRAA, now on its fifth year, is an annual agri tilt in honor of the country’s top rice producing provinces and municipalities, outstanding Irrigators Associations and Small Water Impounding System Associations (IAs and SWISAs), Agricultural Extension Workers and Local Farmer Technicians (AEWs and LFTs) for their invaluable contribution in sustaining food security.

“The recognition that we bestow thru APRAA are proper and just, long-overdue even,” Alcala said stressing that he hopes the next administration would continue to recognize top rice producers.

“Ang APRAA po ay kakaibang pagkilala sa mga totoong hero sa kasalukuyang panahon,” he quipped.

With the challenges and problems that go along with rice production, the extraordinary cooperation and support given by the farmers and LGUs have contributed greatly to the attainment of the 97% rice self sufficiency level of the country.

Alcala recognized the hardworking farmers for their efforts which led the country to attain the highest recorded rice harvest in Philippine history.

The Secretary adds the these successes were attained through the continuous provision of support of the government in research and development of modern technology, most especially technologies which enable farmers to be climate-change resilient such as drought rice tolerant varieties (planted during El Niño periods), Submarino types in flooded areas, and salt-tolerant varieties like Green Super Rice (GSR). GSR is a rice variety developed to withstand environmental stresses including drought, flooding, and salt-water intrusion.

Alcala also recognized the importance of continuous trainings of farmers, credit assistance thru the Land Bank assisted Sikat Saka program, expansion of irrigation and agricultural infrastructure, intensified farm mechanization, establishment of rice processing centers (RPCs), and drying facilities.

The APRAA 2015 awardees were chosen based on their incremental increases in rice harvest and average yield per hectare over 2015 levels amount of budget devoted to rice projects and initiatives, number of farmers benefited, and degree of quality seed utilization, among others. #  Source - (Marlo Asis/AFID)/www.da.gov.ph