Rice farmers in South Cotabato yields 10-12 tons per hectare

The provincial government of South Cotabato exceeded its target of 8 tons per hectare for rice harvest under the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program during the Harvest Festival held in Purok Rosas, Barangay Dajay in Surallah. 

The initial harvest took place on six hectares of rice fields, and will be followed by harvesting on 10 hectares each day until the 210-hectare pilot area of the Upper Valley Agriculture Cooperative (UVACO) with 103 farmer-members is fully harvested.

According to South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., the farmers in the consolidated farming program were able to harvest 10-12 tons per hectare of rice, which is double the 4 tons per hectare they used to produce in the past.

The governor believes that due to the high rice production, it will be possible to lower the price of rice in South Cotabato to ₱30 per kilo.

Under the South Cotabato Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program, small rice farmers within an irrigation system service area are formed into compact rice production areas that implements a uniform cropping system, plant a sole hybrid rice variety, and follow good agricultural practices. Farmers are also be empowered through agribusiness and economic enterprises.

Some 1,600 hectares of rice farms have already been consolidated, out of the 3,000-hectares target of the provincial government.

"The program is directed towards fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos’s commitment to alleviate farmers from poverty and reduce the price of rice in the county," Governor Tamayo said.