The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 convened the local government units (LGUs) of Bukidnon for a coordination meeting on the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) on August 17, 2023 in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.

The MRIDP provided a briefing to approximately 20 LGU attendees focusing on farmers’ welfare, boosting the rice value chain, and improving agricultural production.

Sailila E. Abdula, branch director of DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) Midsayap Branch and program director of MRIDP, outlined the program’s four core strategies, which include Enhancing resilience and stability through climate change adaptation; Promoting unity and convergence via farm clustering and consolidation; Fostering motivated and enthusiastic farmer-entrepreneurs within the rice value chain; and prioritizing timely and relevant digital transformation.

The four strategies will materialize through convergence and cooperation among stakeholders.

As he emphasized, the transformation of Philippine agriculture needs to focus on the market, innovations, scale, mainstreaming, and outcome.

In Northern Mindanao, the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte will be pilot-tested in the program, being the rice producers of the region.

According to the DA-RFO 10 Rice Program Focal Person, in 2022, Region 10 ranked fourth in yield per hectare, with a 4.12 percent contribution to the national production and a sufficiency level of 87.55 percent.

The province of Bukidnon’s 2022 production of 295,686 metric tons has a sufficiency level of 216.51 percent, while Lanao del Norte (2022 production) has 113,903 metric tons production and a sufficiency level of 90.3 percent.

A provincial rice development plan will be crafted to provide direction in attaining the objectives of the program. (with a report from the ATC/DA-10/PIA 10/Bukidnon)

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