Educate farmers to attain rice self-sufficiency
Officials in the rice sector have cited the need to educate farmers in a bid to attain rice self-sufficiency.
In the recent Farmers’ Field Day and Forum conducted at the Central Experiment Station of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) here, Director Dante de Lima, national coordinator for rice and corn, said that volunteer technicians or farmers from local communities will be formed across the country to educate farmers in filling the 15-18 percent insufficiency gap in rice.
“We are 82-85 percent rice self-sufficient, and by training technicians or farmers based in their own communities will help increase rice production. These trained volunteers are from their areas, so they would know how to talk to the local people and would be very familiar with the locality,” de Lima said.
De Lima also announced that the Land Bank of the Philippines’ loan program called Magsasakang Pinoy’s Savings and Credit Card was created to help farmers obtain financial aid with low interest rates.
PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio Rasco Jr. said education is important in making farmers more receptive to new technologies.
Rasco said new knowledge in rice production such as new seeds and right application of fertilizers will guide farmers in increasing their yield.
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