Empowered by the goal of achieving higher rice productivity this wet-cropping season, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON’s implementation of the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program has successfully delivered and distributed quality seeds and fertilizers to rice farmers across the region.

According to a terminal report on November 13, 2020, DA’s RRP has catered for 10,222 hectares benefiting 8,736 rice farmers in the region. Through RRP, the regional office has distributed 80,995 bags of fertilizers to 24,109 farmer-recipients in CALABARZON.

For the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program, 27,426 hectares of rice areas by 25,518 farmer-recipients was planted with RCEF seeds. Aside from seeds, 15,478 rice farmers received 45,420 bags of fertilizers under the RCEF Seed Program.

Meanwhile, 3,000 hectares of inbred seed allocation were distributed for non-RCEF areas under the Expanded Inbred Rice Production, followed by 13,408 fertilizer bags. About 2,964 farmers and 3,183 farmers, respectively, have already made the most of the support by DA through their respective city and municipal agriculture offices.

On the other hand, through its Expanded Hybrid Rice Production, DA’s RRP has allotted a total of 1,187 hectares of hybrid seed allocation for 1,116 rice farmers who have farmlands suitable for hybrid rice seeds. Also, the regional office has distributed hybrid rice seeds to additional 6,186 hectares of rice lands. A total of 4,656 farmers made the most of this supplementary intervention under DA’s RRP. About 22,167 bags of fertilizer accompanied this hybrid distribution to a total of 5,448 farmers under RRP’s Expanded Hybrid and regular hybrid rice production.

Mr. Armando Ramos, president of the Anak Bukid Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Brgy. Sipa Inc. in Padre Burgos, Quezon, is one of the recipients of the expanded inbred seeds component of DA’s RRP. He expressed his utmost gratitude to the regional office for choosing their farmers’ association as one of the project’s beneficiaries.

“Napakalaking tulong po ng mga natatanggap naming libreng inputs mula sa DA. Malaki po ang aming natitipid dahil hindi na po namin kailangan pang bumili ng mga butong pananim at pataba. Bago pa man po dumating ang handog na pananim at abono na buhay ng RRP, ako po ay umaani lamang ng nasa 250 balde (isang balde ay katumbas ng 10 kilo) ng palay. Ngayon pong dumating na sa amin ang RRP, ang aking 0.75 hectare na lupa ay umaani na po ng nasa 320 balde,” Mr. Ramos proudly said.

Mrs. Prima R. Misiera, secretary and bookkeeper of the Anak Bukid Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Brgy. Sipa Inc., is a recipient of RRP’s expanded hybrid and inbred seed components. She expressed her appreciation to DA for its continued support towards rice farmers in their municipality.

“Ngayon pong nakakatanggap na kami ng libreng abono mula sa DA at sa proyekto nitong RRP, nababawasan po ang aking gastos. Hindi ko na po kailangan pang bumili ng mataas na halaga ng abono sa labas. Bilang isang babaeng magsasaka, ako rin po ay isang ina. Kung kaya naman lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa DA sa mga handog ninyong libreng butong pananim at abono. Sana po ay magtuluy-tuloy pa po ang inyong pagtulong sa amin. Sa pamamagitan po ninyo at ng mga proyektong gaya ng RRP ay natitiyak na namin ang masaganang ani at mataas na kita,” Ms. Misiera said.

Mrs. Emerlita Magno, member of Samahan ng Maliliit na Magsasaka ng Ibabang Kinagunan in Agdangan, Quezon and a recipient of DA RRP’s expanded hybrid seed component, shared her experience as one of the many recipients of hybrid seeds and fertilizers in their municipality.

“Noon po ay nasa 60 balde lamang ang aking ani sa aking maliit na sakahan. Ang kita po mula rito ay hindi sapat kumpara sa aking nagastos sa butong pananim at abono. Ngayon pong isa na ang aming samahan sa recipients ng RRP na regular na nakakatanggap ng libreng binhi at abono, ang akin pong munting sakahan ay umaani na ng halos 150 balde. Ramdam na ramdam po ang itinaas ng aming ani at kita kung kaya’t lubos po ang aking pasasalamat sa Kagawaran sa handog ninyong libreng inputs para sa aming mga magsasaka sa Agdangan. Sana po ay ipagpatuloy pa po ninyo ang mga proyektong kagaya ng RRP,” Ms. Magno said.

In response to this remarkable success, the regional office has started introducing the implementing guidelines on the revamped Rice Resiliency Project, also known as RRP 2, for the dry-cropping season. In line with this, rice seeds and fertilizers were already distributed across the region in a bid to support rice farmers this 2020-2021 dry season. ∙ (MAP, DA-RAFIS)