By JEN BAYLON

The supply of rice in Negros Occidental remains sufficient, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson said the 84 percent rice sufficiency means that there is no hunger.

Rice production, particularly in Bago City, did not decrease amid the El Niño phenomenon last year, but instead recorded a slight increase in their yield, he said.

The governor hopes that the weather will be favorable for rice farmers to increase their yields.

Meanwhile, Lacson reinforced the provincial government’s goal of increasing rice production to six metric tons per hectare.

Lacson noted that at present, local farmers produce only four metric tons per hectare.

“Our marching order is that here in Negros Occidental, we can produce six metric tons per hectare of rice,” Lacson said during the distribution of 246 bags of rice seeds to marginalized and calamity-affected local farmers at the Provincial Capitol yesterday.

“Right now, we are at four metric tons. If we can increase that to six, that means 40 more sacks per hectare and, of course, that will help the farmers,” he added.

He further explained that achieving this goal relied heavily on distributing high-quality certified rice seeds.

Lacson emphasized that everything starts with good seeds and expressed confidence that, with the help of local rice seed grower associations, the province could reach or even exceed its production target.

“Fortunately, in Negros Occidental, we have a rice seed grower association that produces this, and of course, we also get assistance from the national government for hybrid rice,” Lacson said.

Furthermore, provincial agriculturist Dina Gensola said marginalized farmers, especially in Cadiz City as well as the towns of E.B. Magalona, Manapla and Ilog, have been suffering from recent flooding that caused damage to their crops.

She highlighted the provincial government’s efforts to sustain local rice seed production, stating that more than just focusing on commercial rice production, the province aims to cultivate its own seed supply.

The 246 bags of rice seeds distributed to the farmers were grown in demonstration farms, ensuring a continuous cycle of sustainability where future yields could be reinvested into assisting more farmers.

“Some of these seeds were even grown in our demo farms, ensuring a sustainable cycle where we can continue to provide seeds to our beneficiaries,” Gensola said.

“These seeds will be used by our farmers, especially those impacted by natural calamities,” she added./JB, WDJ