DAVAO CITY, Philippines –— The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced it is reviewing the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) to enhance rice production and increase farmers’ incomes.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the need for a comprehensive evaluation to identify areas for improvement, such as seed distribution, irrigation expansion, and cropping adjustments.
Last year, the Philippines recorded a harvest of 20.06 million metric tons of palay from 4.82 million hectares. If successful, the MRIDP could raise annual production to over 25 million metric tons, even from only 3.39 million hectares of irrigated land.
Current average rice yields are about 84 sacks per hectare, with irrigated areas yielding 4.51 metric tons per hectare compared to 3.34 metric tons in non-irrigated areas. Tiu Laurel is optimistic that, with proper inputs and technologies, yields could reach 7.5 metric tons per hectare (150 sacks).
“Our aim is to improve productivity while ensuring sustainability in our agricultural sector,” he stated, adding that this could lead to better earnings for farmers and lower food prices for consumers.
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Department of Agriculture to recalibrate Masagana Program
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