DA: PH farmers now more competitive

Agriculture officials said over the weekend that Filipino rice farmers have achieved a level of competitiveness comparable to those of neighboring countries.

A yearly profit of P1 million per hectare is now within reach of local growers, they said.

The Philippines has been preparing the agriculture sector for the integration of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) into a single market in 2015.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has found that, given the appropriate farming practices and inputs, growers can produce seven tons of palay (unmilled rice) a hectare with input costs of P7 a kilo.

Alcala said the findings were based on the results of the “Palayabangan” rice planting productiveness competition that the Nueva Ecija-based PhilRice organized.

Palayabangan is a play on the words palay (unmilled rice) and yabagan, or pride for one’s achievements. Participants strive to produce 10 tons of palay a hectare at a cost of P5 a kilo. This type of production is also called 10-5 standard.

“We would have a generous leeway in competing with our neighbors if we achieved 10-5, but I believe we may also be happy at a still competitive 7-7,” Alcala said. “This means that, given certain factors, we will be competitive come the Asean Economic Community in 2015.”

Among the factors he cited were “best possible technologies” in rice farming, including integrated crop management practices, as well as the use of farm machinery and high-yielding rice varieties.

In a statement, PhilRice executive director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. expressed confidence that local farmers could realize a “profit of P1 million per hectare a year by optimizing their time and using alternative energy resources.”

Rasco noted that, in between crop cycles during the year, farmers have 145 days, or almost five months of “free time.”

“If a farmer uses the byproducts of rice production, such as rice hull and rice straw for producing [other goods such as] mushrooms, fertilizer, feeds, and energy, then P1 million is possible,” Rasco said. “Compare that with the estimated P50,000 a year net profit that a typical farmer earns—way below the poverty level.”

Rasco also urged rice researchers and development workers to provide the technology and support for farmers to help them achieve the million-peso profit.

“Let us inspire our farmers to dream big,” he said, adding that knowledge-based technology and policy interventions would help prepare farmers for a free trade regime in 2015.