The National Rice program conducts an assessment, emphasizing programmatic and consultative bottleneck resolution to advance rice production in the country.

 

Cagayan de Oro City – Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Engr. Christopher V. Morales urged DA-Regional Field Offices (DA-RFOs) to formulate programmatic and multi-year regional rice industry development plan to address rice production bottleneck for the next 4 years, during the National Rice Program (NRP) 2024 3rd Quarter Assessment, held in this city.

The assessment convened DA regional executives, rice program focal persons, LGU representatives and farmer leaders nationwide on November 4-8, as part of the agency’s initiative to address challenges impeding the rice program implementation, as well as aligning the NRP and the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program’s (MRIDP) goals with the needs and perspective of the country’s rice industry stakeholders.

The MRIDP is anchored on four core MASAGANA strategies: 1) MAtatag – Resiliency and stability in climate change adaptation; 2) SAma-sama – unity and convergence in farm clustering and consolidation; 3) GAnado – motivated and enthusiastic farmer-entrepreneurs in the rice value chain, and 4) NApapanahon – timeliness and relevant focus on digital transformation.

“The MRIDP is the overarching framework of the (rice) program with which interventions are coursed through different pathways but for the same direction and aims, harmonizing the NRP, Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the LGUs’ programs towards improvement of the rice industry” Usec. Morales said.

With the adverse climatic condition taking a toll on the rice industry this year, the DA official urged rice program implementers to rebound by exploring the possibility of “double dry” cropping method in the next dry planting season to maximize the dry season’s potential for rice yield increment.

For her part, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga welcomed the delegates to the NRP 3rd Quarter Assessment by reiterating the DA’s role to increase food production and modernizing agriculture as a major pillar of the Philippine economy.

“By increasing our rice sufficiency we will be able to lessen rice importation. This in return will help our farmers to be more prosperous and profitable with our end goal to be self-sustaining, having enough rice supply for local consumption” she remarked.

The assessment will be capped with an inter-stakeholders consultation putting forward resolutions on issues relating to project implementation guidelines, gap in communication, intervention distribution schedule and monitoring and evaluation mechanism.# (ATT)