Rice Sufficiency & Aquaculture Revival In 2012
03 January 2012PHILIPPINES - Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Capitol is eyeing to make the province self-sufficient in rice this year and also plans to revive the aquaculture industry.
“Hopefully by the end of the year, we can be self-sufficient in rice already. We are almost there, so we intend to strengthen the farmer's cooperatives so that we can give them the necessary funding to be able to reach our target,” Mr Marañon said, according to SunStar.
The governor pointed out that the Provincial Government has extended P5 million to Kabisig, an organisation that promotes rice production in Bago City. The funding is intended for the upgrading of the group’s rice mill and other facilities.
He said that through Kabisig, he hopes to realize the direct buying of palay from the farmers at a price that will compete with the traders so that the farmers can enjoy good price of their palay produce.
Mr Marañon also said that this year, Capitol targets the construction of three Rice Processing Centers (RPC) - one in central Negros, another one in the north and one in the south.
He said in central Negros, provincial officials are eyeing Bago City as the location because there are 12,000 to 14,000 hectares of rice fields located in the area.
Another area which was identified for RPC is Barangay Codcod, San Carlos City which hosts 5,000 hectares of fully irrigated farms. In the south, the RPC will be constructed within the area of Binalbagan or Himamaylan City.
A Korean company may finance the project.
Meanwhile, Sun Star reports that Mr Marañon said, this year, that the Provincial Government will revive the aquaculture industry.
"There is a huge potential for aquaculture," he said.
He cited that in an actual survey at Bacolod’s “pala-pala” area, only five per cent of the fish sold there are sea catch and the rest are cultured fish like tilapia, prawn, bangus, and pantat because of the fact that the seas are already depleted.
“So we must prepare our aquaculture, as we also have a vast area of fishponds, fish cages and fish pens at around 15,000 hectares. We will develop them,” Mr Marañon said.
He added that a sustainable aquaculture industry will be established with rules and regulations and the new technology needed in the industry.
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