CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Although many people believe it is impossible to achieve a P20 per kilo rice price, Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan stated during the Kapihan sa Bagon Pilipinas on June 18 that it is achievable with time and improvements to the production system.“There are actually basic, simple formulas. One is that you reduce the cost of production. Two, you increase the harvest average yield. So, how do we do it? It’s something that our team has to work on in the next two or three years,” he added.
Pacamalan recalled the campaign promise of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., to reduce rice prices to P20 per kilo. Initially met with skepticism, this target has become a directive for all agricultural bodies in the country. He emphasized that lowering production costs and increasing yield are essential strategies.
The regional executive director further pointed to the goal of achieving a production cost of around P30,000 per hectare and stabilizing yields at 5.5 tons per hectare as steps towards reaching the P20 per kilo rice price.
One notable approach is the integrated rice-duck farming system, which reduces production costs by replacing synthetic inputs with ducks, cutting costs by up to 40 percent. While this goal may not be achievable immediately, Pacamalan expressed optimism about future progress through ongoing research and technology scaling.
In northern Mindanao, efforts are underway to improve not only rice sufficiency but also the production of other nutritious foods. Mechanization of the entire production process, from cultivation to marketing, is a key focus.
Pacamalan said partnerships play a crucial role in these initiatives. The DA-10 collaborates with organizations to enhance agricultural investment and online marketing. Improving logistics is also a priority, with projects aimed at reducing transportation costs for agricultural products.
He also stressed the importance of working with local government units (LGUs) to implement impactful projects and the role of research centers in testing and refining new technologies. Financial assistance for rice farmers is another critical component, with recent distributions of machinery and equipment worth around P50 million and infrastructure projects totaling P300 million.
Mylin Tayapad, a beneficiary of DA-10’s programs, shared her perspective as a farmer on lowering the price of rice commodities. “As mag-uuma, sakit jud na nga presyo para nako pero naa ta’y matabangan, kung kita mismo mag-uuma dili sa ta mu-aim og high nga volume gyud, kung ang matag usa magtanom kanang locally. Para sa akoa, kaya man gyud siya abuton unta og magtambayayong lang,” she said.
(As a farmer, high prices are challenging, but we can help others if we farmers do not aim for high prices for our products and if each one of us plants locally. For me, the lowered price of rice is possible if we just help one another.)
Meanwhile, the regional executive director reported that the Rice Seed Monitoring System and the Rice Crop Manager decision-support tool have enabled farmers to track and improve their yields with precision. The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund has also provided significant financial assistance to more than 45,000 farmers in the region.
The department’s Rice Program has delivered over 908,000 kilograms of hybrid seeds, benefiting nearly 27,000 farmers. Additionally, 15.7 million kilograms of inorganic fertilizers have been distributed, with full seed distribution expected by the first quarter of 2024.
Pacamalan stressed that these initiatives aim to strengthen northern Mindanao’s agricultural sector, ensuring productivity and sustainability amidst the challenges posed by rising prices and climate-related disruptions. (RTP/PIA-10)
