Capitol intensifies food production
By ED SESTOSO
The Negros Oriental local government through its provincial agriculturist office is intensifying efforts to boost food production.
The province is not exempted from the raging food crisis experienced by the people throughout the country.
Along this line, Capitol agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca has ordered agricultural technicians in the province to step up food production.
PAO communications officer Oliver Lemence explained in an interview with the members of the media that Paltinca’s order directed field technicians to manage at least 1.5 hectares of land for rice, corn, fruits and organic farming.
The funding for such food production intensification is taken from its regional office of the Department of Agriculture principally intended for rice and corn production, enabling PAO to offer subsidized hybrid seeds to farmers province-wide.
The Capitol agriculturist has also directed all Barangay Agricultural Development Centers (BADCs) in the province to allocate areas for planting of corn in each area
“In return, they will be given technical and fertilizer support,” said Lemence.
The PAO office presently has over 2,000 bags of organic fertilizers .
Lemence added that fertilizers will also be distributed to the Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan (GPAK) farmer field schools (FFS), FFS vegetable, FFS rice and corn.
On fish production, PAO is also working on improving the breeding stock of the province’s tilapia.
Lemence further stated that their office is eyeing the purchase of a new breed of tilapia from Bohol and Nueva Ecija in the next three months.
“Nigamay man gud ang tilapia nato gumikan sa daghang mga hinungdan apil na ang pag-usab usab sa atong panahon” Lemence said.
Governor Emilio Macias 11 is joining with the other governors throughout the country in allocating 50% of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) differentials amounting to not less than P12.57 billion pesos solely for food production.
The amount represents the IRA differentials due the local government units (LGUs) for 2001-2004.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, secretary-general of the League of Provinces, said that local officials fully support efforts by the Arroyo administration to head off rice shortage, and for the country to eventually attain self-sufficiency in rice.
Banking on the on-going massive government program to drastically increase rice production, the Department of Agriculture said the country is well on the way to attaining self-sufficiency in the staple crop in three years.
Evardone said about P6 billion would be used by the LGUs to buy certified seeds, post-harvest facilities and other farm implements “to help boost food production” in the country.
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Wed May 21, 2008 9:44 pm