ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The province of Iloilo contributed the highest yield in rice for the first quarter 2017 with 325,217 metric tons harvested in Western Visayas.
James Ogatis, Information officer of the Department of Agriculture-6 said that Iloilo has the highest rice output because it has the widest rice area.
“This makes the province capable of producing more than all the other provinces,” Ogatis said.
The provinces of Capiz and Antique contributed 111,258 metric tons and 60,291 metric tons respectively, while Aklan had 15,349 and Guimaras, 10,333.
As per data of the Regional Statistics Services Office, the regional average yield as of the first quarter is 3.17 metric tons per hectare and is expected to rise in the next quarters by boosting yields and the use of quality and hybrid seeds.
Data also showed the province of Antique yielded 3.48 metric tons per hectare, Capiz, 3.28mt, Iloilo 3.15mt, Aklan, 2.9mt, and Guimaras, 2.4mt.
DA-6 said the outcome of the production was taken from the harvests of irrigated, rain-fed, and upland areas in the region.
The total output of the irrigated lands in Western Visayas excluding Negros Occidental reached 266,212 metric tons, while the rain-fed attained 285,751 and the upland had 81 metric tons.
Ogatis said the DA continues to develop farm mechanization and high yield technology assistance in order to improve the competitiveness of local rice production and boost farmers’ income.
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