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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon sees boost in 2024 PH rice production despite El Niño 

Solon sees boost in 2024 PH rice production despite El Niño 

Published Jan 3, 2024 05:00 am

At A Glance

  • Despite the very real threat of El Niño, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan believes that the Philippines would still be able to increase its rice production for 2024. 

farmer.jpg(MANILA BULLETIN)

Despite the very real threat of El Niño, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan believes that the Philippines would still be able to increase its rice production for 2024.

This, as Yamsuan highlighted on Wednesday, Jan. 3 the P30,889,904,000 that had been allocated for the Department of Agriculture's (DA) National Rice Program (NRP) under the just-enacted 2024 national budget or General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The amount is more than half-a-billion pesos from last year’s P30,296,993,000 allocation.

Yamsuan said the budget for the NRP is on top of the allocations for other national programs related to rice production and locally funded projects to benefit palay producers under the 2024 budget.

Small rice producers are also assured of cash aid worth over P15 billion from the 2023 tariff collections from rice imports.

Under the law, rice import tariff collections in excess of P10 billion should go directly to farmers tilling two hectares of land and below in the form of cash grants. As of November 2023, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has already collected P25.55 billion, which means a surplus of at least P15.5 billion that will go to small rice planters this year.

“We are confident that not only the agriculture department, but other agencies across all other concerned sectors would be fully prepared for this prolonged dry spell to ensure that our rice farmers get all the support they need to continue improving their productivity and incomes amid this challenge,” said Yamsuan, who has proposed several farmer-friendly measures in Congress.

Among them is House Bill (HB) No.9129, which seeks to institutionalize the use of crop climate calendars tailor-made to each specific locality, as a way to help farmers harness the power of science and technology in adapting to the disruptions triggered by climate change and other extreme weather events like the El Niño.

Under the NRP, the budget for production support services rose by over P1 billion from P22.87 billion in 2023 to P24.11 billion in 2024. These services include establishing community seed banks, support to Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers, buffer seed stocking, insurance coverage for disaster response, and pest control measures.

Yamsuan also said that irrigation network services under the NRP received a significant increase of 40 percent from P721.25 million in 2023 to P1.01 billion in 2024, in anticipation of El Niño.

This extended dry spell could last until the first half of 2024, according to projections by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

On top of the increase in the budget the NRP’s irrigation network services, Yamsuan also pointed out that the allocation for extension support, education and training services under the NRP grew from P1.26 billion in 2023 to P2.04 billion for this fiscal year.

The rookie solon said that theze services will aid farmers in arming themselves with knowledge on sustainable agriculture practices and new planting technologies to increase production.

Aside from the NRP, other national programs and locally funded projects, rice farmers will also get a windfall of support under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), Yamsuan noted.

Revenues collected by the BOC from rice import tariffs pay for the annual requirement of P10 billion for the RCEF until 2024, as mandated under Republic Act (RA) No.11203.

Related Tags

El Niño Bicol Saro Party-list Brian Raymund Yamsuan Rice production
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