P110M Cash Awards To Top ‘Rice Production Achievers’

The country’s top rice producing provinces and towns in 2012 — including the best performing irrigators’ associations (IAs) and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) —  will be honored in the ‘2nd Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards,’ on March 15, 2013.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the contest, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture through its national rice program, is the Aquino government’s way of thanking the country’s rice farmers and their respective provincial and municipal officials and AEWs for their continuing efforts and contribution in increasing the national rice harvest.

“We initiated the Rice Achievers’ Awards as part of the DA’s interventions and incentive system to encourage LGUs, IAs and AEWs to contribute their shares in increasing farmers’ harvest and incomes, and subsequently attain national rice sufficiency,” said Secretary Alcala.

“For the second straight year, we will recognize their vital contributions as the Philippines gears up for rice sufficiency this year,” the DA chief said. He has invited President Benigno S. Aquino III as the main guest and speaker, and personally hand over the awards and prizes to the 2012 rice achievers, in ceremonies to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

A total of P110 million in prizes in the form of projects and incentives will be given to the winners. They are composed of the top 10 provinces that will each receive a P4-M project grant, 48 municipalities and cities (P1-M project each), 10 IAs (P1-M project), three small water impounding systems associations or SWISAs (P500,000-project), and 500 AEWs (P20,000-incentive each).

For his part, DA assistant secretary and national rice program coordinator Dante Delima said the DA will conduct the contest annually to give due recognition to the hard work and support extended by farmers, local leaders and farm technicians to increase rice production.

The top provinces, towns and cities, IAs and SWISAs  were chosen based on the following: incremental rice harvest and average yield per hectare over 2011 levels, increase if any over 2012 target, amount of budget devoted to rice projects and initiatives, number of farmers benefited, and degree of rice seed utilization, among other criteria. (DA-RAFID6) /MP