JICA, PhilRice project is cooperation for increased productivity

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

The third technical cooperation project (TCP 3) of PhilRice and JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency] means cooperation for increased productivity and income.

In a nutshell, this is how local government officials of Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and Currimao, Ilocos Norte look at TCP 3, which is implemented by JICA experts and PhilRice extensionists simultaneously in the three towns.

In Rizal town, the project is implemented in Brgy. Agbannawag with an extension in Brgy. Pag-asa.  Up north, it is implemented in Brgy. Rizal in Cabugao, as well as in Brgy. Pias Norte and Brgy. Pias Sur in Currimao.  The project in Rizal is focused on irrigated lowland rice production, while that of its counterpart in Cabugao and Currimao is integrated rice-based farming systems in rain fed farms with a fragile environment.

Newly reelected Mayor Eugenio L. Placido Jr. of Rizal said the farmers covered by the project would not have attained high yields and income without it.  He added that production cost was reduced and yields increased. Roughly, yields have increased from 4 tons per hectare (t/ha) to 8 t/ha.

He also noted that the farmers’ yields have become very good because of the technology that they learned through the project.

He said these could have been triggered by the harmonious relationship of the JICA team leader, Mr. Moriya Shigyo, with the farmers and local technologists as well.

Mrs. Eladia B. Inocente, Rizal municipal agriculturist, recalls that Agbannawag was her first choice when a site for the project was being selected.  For one thing, the farmers are very cooperative and innovative, she said.  They could be easily convinced to adopt the new rice technology.  At the same time, the local PART [Partnership for Agricultural and Rural Transformation] association was already organized and could be linked with TCP 3.

Because the participating farmers are benefiting from the project, other farmers are now getting   interested in a similar project in their barangays, Mayor Placido added. He mentioned that while other farmers did not give any attention to the project at the start two years ago, they are now raring for its extension to their places.

Already, the Rizal LGU has made five barangays as expansion sites of TCP 3 – Poblacion West, Paco Roman, Del Pilar, Aglipay, and Bicos, according to Mayor Placido.  A total of no less than 100 farmers will be benefited in the expansion sites, which will be implemented by technologists of the local agriculture office. PhilRice, however, will continue to provide technical assistance.

The young mayor hopes that the expansion sites will be as successful as the original project site “since the intended participants are industrious, interested, and desirous of an improvement in their lives.”

While only one barangay was expected as an expansion site in the 2007 wet season, the project now actually has five expansion sites.

Mayor Placido said that although his town does not have much income and is dependent largely on the IRA [internal revenue allocation], a total of PhP100,000 a year has been appropriated for the five sites.  He pointed out that financial support will be provided only to the techno demo farmers; participating farmers will be on their own.

Although we were not able to catch Mayor Diocaesar Suero of Cabugao and Mayor Rosario Go of Currimao, the two municipal chief executives are very supportive of the project, according to their respective municipal agricultural officer.  In fact, expansion sites in each town have been selected already with the mayors’ approval.

Mrs. Zenaida Andrada, Cabugao municipal agriculturist, recalls that three sites were originally proposed for the project but Brgy. Rizal was selected because the new rice varieties were not common in that area. 

Looking back at the project, she said: “The project is very good because a lot of technologies and information were taught to the farmers; a lot of their practices and beliefs have changed because they have adopted what were taught to them.”

She observed that while the farmers in the past were only using good seeds, they now insist in using certified seeds.  Likewise, their cost of production has decreased.    

Already, two expansion sites have been selected in Cabugao – Brgy. Salapasap and Brgy. Namruangan – so that the model could be transferred, Andrada said.  It is envisioned that all the barangays of Cabugao will be covered already by the time the project ends.

On the other hand, Mr. Leo Barroga, municipal agriculturist of Currimao, said his town’s expansion sites are in Brgy. Tapao Tigue and Brgy. Langayan with 11 and 13 farmers, respectively.  Expenses for the expansion sites are shouldered by the local government unit, as Mayor Go has assured 100 percent support for the project, according to Barroga.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/harvest-time/)

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