More than 2 million rice farmers are now enjoying the initial benefits provided by the government under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund program, the Department of Agriculture said Friday.
“We are pleased to report for the first two years of implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law that created the RCEF, farmers are producing additional harvests, averaging 400 kilograms per hectare or roughly eight cavans [at 50 kilograms each], which is equivalent to an additional income of P7,000 per hectare,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
“This shows that with the use of certified seeds, adoption of modern technologies, and mechanizing land preparation, crop establishment and harvesting, farmers could attain incremental yields,” he said.