MikeLigalig.com

by Fred Amora
Bohol Standard

Rice sufficiency in the region had reportedly slide down to 65% compared to the last year’s survey that yielded a high 130% rating, if based in the recent Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) report.

Irrigation authorities here, however, said such reports are inaccurate.

Region 7 Irrigation Manager Engr. Modesto Membreve said that reports blaming in particular, irrigation mismanagement, are malicious and must be verified on the ground for a factual look on agricultural situation in the region.

Rice sufficiency in the region is even confirmed by the Department of Trade and Industry as their price watch monitoring units reported a stable price for rice despite increasing demand.

A corn program group also said rice sufficiency is further threatened due to less corn production, with the current average yield in Central Visayas, of less than one ton per hectare.

Only 164,770 hectares are planted to corn in Central Visayas, composed of the four provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor and Negros Oriental.

The NIA-7 office disagreed on this.

Corn yield intensification is one major program of the agriculture department and it cannot affect supply; but instead is boosting the rice stability in the region, the office said.

NIA-7 pointed to some inaccuracy of reports reaching the media.

“In fact, NIA-7 posted a high 2010 evaluation rating as No. 1 in viability and as among the Top 5 in revenue generation nationwide in the 2010 Assessment Report, “ Membreve pointed out.

The two Bohol Integrated Irrigation Systems (BIIS-1 Malinao Dam and BIIS-2 Bayongan/ Capayas Dam) serve a large total area of about 10,040 hectares of irrigated rice lands. In just two years since its establishment in April 2009, the Central Visayas NIA regional office under the watch of Engr. Membreve was able to squeeze its way out of the financial slump and registered a net revenue income of P47-million in 2010.

NIA Administrator Engr. Antonio S. Nangel personally inspected the Reg. 7 service areas and had seen for himself how the strong partnership of NIA and farmers had resulted to a sustainable high rice yield. (FRED C. AMORA)

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