CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10 and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-10 capped the National Rice Awareness Month celebration, November 27, 2020 at ATI, El Salvador City.
DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga stressed the need to patronize locally produced rice at a reasonable price.
“Let us be reminded, there will be no food on the Filipino people’s table if it were not for the farmers,” she added.
DA has provisions of seeds, farm machinery, equipment to different farmers cooperatives, associations aside from other programs that could help them in attaining food security.
She also emphasized DA’s implementation on programs and projects that will result in an increased agri productivity, competitiveness and profitability and sustainability.
Meanwhile, ATI NorMin Center Director Ma. Lydia A. Echavez said, “We take time to honor our farmers as well as encourage every Filipino to be one of us, to do our small share of being riceponsible by valuing every grain of rice that our rice farmers produce.”
ATI is one with the DA in the celebration of the month of November as NRAM with the theme, “Buy local. Support local. Eat local. Support our rice farmers.”
The celebration is in support of the Filipino rice farmers for their hard work in producing the most important staple in the country, which is rice.
Northern Mindanao National Rice Achievers awardees were recognized for their invaluable contribution to food security.
Outstanding provinces are the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte del Norte for Category A and the Provincial Government of Bukidnon for Category B, with an award of P4 million worth of livelihood projects each related to rice production.
Category A is for provinces with production performance greater than or equal to 250,000 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) and area harvested of 500,000 ha.
Meanwhile, under category B, provinces with a production performance less than 250,000 MT/ha and area harvested of 25,000 ha are included.
Valencia City in Bukidnon is one of the outstanding cities for its support and efforts in addressing the plight of smallholder rice farmers and for contributing largely to rice productivity. They received an award of P1 million.
The celebration does not only highlight the marketing and consumption aspect, but also the production of local rice, encouraging various stakeholders to support the Filipino farmers. (DA10/PIA10)
