Dagupan’s palay sector thrives
DAGUPAN, a city famous for being the bangus capital of the world, also has, unknown to many, a thriving rice producing sector with 16 hectares of land that is irrigated year-round.
The city’s areas bordering the town of Calasiao, particularly Tebeng and Mangin, have suitable land for planting palay and other crops, according to City Agriculturist Emma Molina.
“Marami pa ring rice farmers dito sa Dagupan,” Molina told newsmen after the KBP Forum on Thursday morning at the Philippine Information Agency office.
Molina cited Kagawad Sergio Edades of Mangin who has been successful in palay production through the use of certified seeds.
He has been harvesting from 180 to 190 cavans of palay per hectare per cropping, more than double the normal production of 60 to 70 cavans.
Most lands in the city, particularly in Bonuan, Lucao and Bacayao, are devoted to the fishpond industry while the downtown area and several other sections are being used for commercial purposes.
Meanwhile, Molina said that fishponds in the city produce up to two tons of milkfish. About three tons come from the fish pens and cages to supply the needs of the city and other areas like Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley and Baguio City.
With fish pens now providing the bulk of supply, she said there is a need to protect the industry and at the same time regulate it to prevent a repeat of the severe fish kills that hit the city in the previous years, the most recent in 2004.
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