Sugarcane-rice intercropping system project launched

BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government has collaborated with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) in launching the Sugarcane-Rice Intercropping System Project in Barangay Aranda, Hinigaran town last week.

The ceremonial planting of the first palay seeds was held in the block farm of Hacienda Bagacay Workers CARPer Beneficiaries Association, which is the pioneer host of the project in the province.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the launching activity with Mayor Nadie Arceo, thanked the farmers for their cooperation as he hoped that the project will be successful.

“You are the pioneers. There is a study that shows this is possible, that we can do this. If we will be successful, the others will also follow,” he said.

Lawyer Ignacio Santillana of the SRA Office of the Deputy Administrator for Research, Development and Extension Department said the intercropping project is one way to ensure food security not only in the province, but also in the country since the Philippines continues to import rice.

“Through intercropping, even just in the block farm level, we hope to address it. Our long-term objective is after the farmers are able to meet their needs, they can also sell their produce. It is also our goal to meet the demand for exotic rice in a unique market niche,” he added.

Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said they aim to maximize the areas in the province devoted to sugarcane, which span some 189,000 hectares.

“We hope that we can produce not only sugarcane but also rice. This way, the workers will have harvest in three to four months,” he said.

Masculino added that Lacson is keen on pursuing the intercropping project because Negros Occidental is a rice deficit province.

“If we can plant rice in even just half of the sugarcane areas, it will be a big addition to our rice supply,” he said.

Reynaldo Bacordo of the Hacienda Bagacay Workers CARPer Beneficiaries Association said he is also hopeful that the project will be sustained through the help of the government agencies since they have more areas to plant rice in their sugarcane farm.

Negros Occidental is dubbed the sugar capital of the Philippines for producing about 60 percent of the country’s sugar output. (PNA)