Rice Program

PROVINCIAL RICE PROGRAM

In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Provincial Government focused its resources both human thru the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and corresponding budget in the production of staple food which is rice. To sustain “ Bohol as the  Rice Bowl “ in the Region VII, strategies must be in place with the continuous improvement of rice varieties, adoption of farmers to high quality seeds, best cultural management practices, enhanced farm machineries and subsidized seeds and fertilizers inputs. It’s only then, food security and rice self-sufficiency is sustained in the province.

Bohol has a total physical area of 47,376.51 hectares for rice. Only 72.20 % which is 34,204.00 ha. were planted with rice. Inbred rice could be planted in an irrigated and non irrigated fields. It covered an area of   21,939.00 ha. while hybrid rice was planted in 12,265,00 ha. Irrigated fields. Hybrid rice got the biggest budget in the hope that it could produce more to sustain the food security in the province and in the whole Region City.

Last year budget for rice production is the biggest so far for the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. It was almost four times from the previous years. It was a very much challengeable year for the OPA staff especially the Rice Section. A production of 160 bags of hybrid rice per hectare in an irrigated and 120 bags per hectare of inbred rice in a non  irrigated rice field is quite a target for the field rice technicians. The Provincial Government thru the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is all out support with the Rice Program of last year 2020 with the hope that this could help feed the Boholano people in this COVID pandemic and the whole Region VII

Seed inputs got the biggest slot of the budget for OPA for rice production of last year. It was five times compared of the previous year. A total of 17,680,000.00 was quite a sum of money of which hybrid seeds got the biggest slot. It was the first time the office allocated budget for hybrid seeds. Aside from PGBh budget, the Province has given a budget for rice seeds from the Department of Agriculture for hybridization being the Rice Bowl in the whole of region VII

Records shows that in 2020, an area of 6,000 ha. planted with rice could produce 23, 400,000 kilograms of milled rice and this could feed the Boholano population in 56 days. This was compared to the year 2019 where 3,662,000 kilograms milled rice was produced in a 2180 ha. planted with rice and that it  was enough enough  for 8 days consumption  and in 2018 only 2050 ha. was planted , and this was able to produce 3,936,000 kilograms milled rice and that it is good only for 9 days consumption for the whole Boholano population In peso, the milled rice 23,400,000 kilograms produced last year 2020 has a money worth of 1,053,000,000.00 while 2019’s 3,662,400 kilograms milled rice was 164, 808,000.00 worth while 2018’s 3,936,000 kilograms milled rice was 177,120,000.

1. Advanced Rice Technology (ART) 160

ART 160 is hybrid rice production. It started during the wet season of 2020, in a 3,000 has. of irrigated ricefield . There are 12 MLGUs and 22 Irrigators Associations that are recipients of the program.  It had a budget of P18,000,000 worth of hybrid seeds and approximately 3,434 farmers benefited in the program. The farmers was able to produce 8,000 MT or 160 cavans of palay per hectare and that the farmers could be able to generate P120,000 net income per hectare per season.

During the previous cropping the ART 160 program was able to produce 220 cavans more than the target of 160 cavans per hectare. This will give an income of approximately P165,000 net income per hectare. Thus in percentage accomplishment is 137.5 %.

PALAY BUY BACK

Buy-back Scheme is the strategy component of the ART 160 Program to ensure a sure and secure market at a better price of the palay produce by the farmers. Only 300 hectares which is 10% of the ART 160 area covered will be focused in the scheme. The palay was bought at P20.00 per kilo at 14% moisture content of the palay. The budget was P48,000,000.00 and the estimated net income was 10.3 million.

PALAY PROCESSING

BOHOL ART AWARDS

2. Advanced Rice Technology (ART) 120

The ART 120 program was able to produce 160 cavans of play in a hectare of ricefield during this cropping season. It gave an approximately P113,333 net income per hectare per cropping season from the target of P85,000 net income only. The program accomplished a 133.33% from its target.