In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched here on Tuesday the 16th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF).

The Sept. 19-21 forum aims to promote the adoption of yield-boosting rice technologies by showcasing high-yielding hybrid and inbred rice seed varieties, machinery and other evidence-based practices in various demonstration areas in the country.

Dr. Frisco Malabanan, the MRIDP productivity enhancement focal person, said the forum also serves as a venue for rice industry stakeholders to establish networks.

“With the program, we are confident that we can produce enough for the Filipinos and attain a decent income for them,” Malabanan said during a press briefing, adding that the initiative would also highlight how to cope with climate change using available technologies.

For the program to be more effective, he said rice farmers in irrigated areas are being provided free hybrid rice seeds, and inbred seeds for other rice ecosystems.

“You can easily double your income using hybrid rice following the recommended protocol and technologies,” he said.

In addition, Malabanan said DA has also provided fertilizer discount vouchers, e-vouchers for bio-fertilizers, mechanization, irrigation, and credit windows for the rice farmers.

“Our major approach is farm clustering, wherein the private and government interventions focus on them like providing technical assistance. With this, it is much easier to increase their production,” he said.

This year, he said, DA has allotted PHP15 billion for the program, and PHP31 billion for next year.

The NRTF is a collaboration among national government agencies, local government units, local farmers, the private sector and stakeholders. It is also a joint project of the DA-11 and the Philippine Rice Board, in partnership with the Davao del Sur provincial government and Hagonoy municipal government. (PNA)