DA, LGUs, rice producers uphold farm clustering, consolidation in NorMin

 

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon – Consistent with its effort to increase rice production in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) recently convened rice producers across the region for a three-day Rice Clusters Conference and Business Forum, here.
The forum calls for multilateral dialogue between the DA, Local Government Units (LGUs), and rice farmers to foster a common working ground to address bottlenecks in the development of the region’s rice industry.

Spearheaded by the DA-10 Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program, the forum was attended by 66 rice clusters from the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental.

Clustering of rice farmers’ cooperatives, associations and consolidation of their production areas is one of the key strategies of the DA’s MASAGANA Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP). Under the MRIDP, the government is poised to provide harmonized and programmatic assistance to farmers across the rice value chain.

According to MRIDP Director for Clustering and Consolidation, Emerson S. Yago, being a cluster is advantageous for the farmers to have negotiating power. He stressed the need for convergence, coordination, and cooperation among key players to scale up the country’s rice industry.

To optimize their production capacity, he urged rice clusters to capitalize on the credit assistance provided by government financial entities to leverage the clusters’ operations in terms of rice production, processing and marketing.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, called on the rice farmers to voice out their opinions and recommendations during the forum as basis for policy formulations for the DA to better the implementation of its programs and projects in the region.

He also stressed that it is ripe for the farmers in the region to prepare and train the youth to take on their roles in the pursuit for sustainable agricultural development and be part of the effort to address challenges faced by the country’s farmers.

For her part, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga encouraged the rice cluster leaders to keep themselves abreast with the DA’s F2C2 Program to assist them in availing DA’s assistance to spur inclusive agricultural development at the grassroot level.

Held in time with the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM), the forum was also attended by the DA-10 chief of Field Operations Division Luz I. Guzman, PhD, Rice Program focal person Chona H. Nacalaban, Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, and F2C2 focal person Gay Nanette R. Aleria. # (ATT)