LGUs eyed in plan to hike rice output

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking the support of local government executives for the DA’s rice self-sufficiency plan and to craft action programs in their respective provinces and municipalities to support the self-sufficiency program.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the self-sufficiency blueprint for 2008-2010 adopts the “clustering approach” wherein the support of governors and mayors is indispensable.

The clustering technique, which has been tried and tested under the DA’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice Program, will require the active involvement of LGU executives, most especially in extension and monitoring work, Yap said.

“That’s why I have to meet the governors and mayors soon enough because we have to come up with a partnership,” Yap said.

“One big problem in agriculture is that we at the DA feel like generals without troops because all the technicians and all the agricultural workers have been devolved to the LGUs. So, I need to find a way to cooperate and work with them (agricultural workers and technicians) through our local officials,” Yap explained.

“This DA-LGU partnership is crucial to the self-sufficiency plan,” he said, “because this medium-term program’s success on the ground will depend on the cooperation of LGUs.”

Yap said the self-sufficiency plan, which the DA will pursue jointly with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) over the next five years, is similar to previous palay production programs because of its focus on irrigation, technology, extension services and credit support for farmers.

He said the self-sufficiency plan could be considered unique in four areas: scope, advances in current rice technology, funding commitment and management approach.

It is also similar to past programs because it focuses on irrigation, technology, extension services and credit support for farmers, he added.