ILOILO CITY (PIA) – National Irrigation Administration (NIA) administrator Engr. Eduardo G. Guillen announced the adjustments in the cropping calendar to boost the country’s rice production following the inauguration of the mega dams of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo on July 16.
“Yung calendar babaguhin natin, magiging scientific siya. Titingnan natin kung anong time magandang magtanim. Parang sa Luzon, halimbawa, instead of October, papasok natin September para sa dry season makadalawang cropping na tayo, then bonus na lang ‘yung sa wet season,” Guillen said in a media interview.
(We’ll change the [approach in the] calendar, we’ll go scientific so we’d know the best time to plant. In Luzon, for example, instead of October, we’ll start September so we’ll have two cropping during the cry season. Bonus [if there’ll be cropping during the] wet season.)
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that the country’s rice production from January to March this year dropped to 4.68 million metric tons (MMT), compared to 4.78 MMT for the same period in 2023.
With the adjustments in the cropping period, Guillen noted that these would create an increase in the cropping intensity of the country.
“Simple math eh, sabi namin ni secretary [Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture], ngayon ang cropping intensity natin sa buong bansa is 1.6, yung Vietnam nakaka-tatlo sila, so kahit magawang 2.6 man lang natin. Pag ganun, sabi ko kay secretary baka hindi na tayo mag-import, dadagdagan natin ang cropping season,” Guillen stressed.
(“It’s like simple math. Secretary [Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture] and I computed that the country’s current cropping intensity is 1.6. We are targeting [to double it to] 2.6. If that happens, we’ll no longer import [ rice]; we just need to add cropping season.)
Tiu-Laurel, in a similar interview, acknowledged the impact of the changes in the calendar and the operation of the JRMP II, which is expected to provide irrigation to 31,840 hectares of farmland in Iloilo, benefitting around 25,000 farmers.
He also laid down some of the agency’s preparation and mitigation efforts to cushion the impact of the looming La Niña phenomenon on the agriculture sector. He cited the distribution of water pumps to farmers and the need to speed up the clearance of drainage systems, construction of water-impounding projects, and other post-harvest facilities.
“Meron din tayong mga solid irrigation system na ikakabit ng NIA, and ang DA magbibigay rin ng water pumps sa mga farmer natin. Yung BSWM [Bureau of Soils and Water Management] gagawa ng small water impounding project para makuha yung excess water,” Tiu-Laurel said.
(“We also have solid irrigation systems that will be installed by the NIA, and the DA will also provide water pumps to our farmers. The BSWM [Bureau of Soils and Water Management] will do a small water impounding project to get the excess water.”) (PIA Iloilo)
