BACOLOD CITY—The Negros Island Region (NIR) is aiming to become crops sufficient in the next six years.
Both Negros provinces, together with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-NIR, in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental, are holding a two-day workshop that started on Monday to formulate the region’s 2016-2022 agricultural development plan or road map.
The workshop, being held at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel, is attended by city and municipal agriculturists from both Negros provinces.
Other industry stakeholders and representatives from partner-agencies involved in the development of the crop, fishery and livestock sectors are also present.
Provincial senior agriculturist Dina Genzola said the workshop serves as venue to analyze and improve the strength and opportunities, and address the weaknesses and threat to the agriculture industry amid the challenges brought by climate change.
The agricultural development plan will harmonize the efforts and initiatives of both Negros Occidental and Oriental, particularly on further improving agricultural productivity, she added.
“Through this road map, we are positioning the NIR to become a crops self-sufficient region by 2022, especially in rice, which is the country’s staple food,” Genzola said.
OPA records showed that Negros Occidental is the second-highest producer of rice in the Western Visayas, and the ninth in the country.
Last year the province’s rice-sufficiency level reached only 97 percent.
Genzola said the province is actually targeting more than 100 percent, but because of the calamities, like the recent El Niño and the developing La Niña, production is being affected.
“Amid these challenges, we remain optimistic to meet our target self-sufficiency in rice and other commodities,” she added.
Part of the road map is also maintaining the region’s status as leader of organic agriculture in the country, and further boosting agribusiness through providing consideration on the whole value chain, from production to marketing.