DA to recalibrate Masagana rice program

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is set on recalibrating the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program to increase rice production and meet self-sufficiency goals.

With better input and technology, rice yield could reach 7.5 metric tons per hectare in targeted program areas, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The projected rice yield, equivalent to 150 bags weighing 50 kilos each, is nearly double the current national yield of just 84 sacks per hectare.

“We’re recalibrating the program to identify areas for enhancement, including the distribution of improved seeds, expansion of irrigation systems and adjustments to rice cropping schedules,” Tiu Laurel said.

The rice program is patterned after the late president Ferdinand Marcos’ Masagana 99 program, which aimed to improve the production of rice seeds, optimize the utilization of fertilizers and develop an efficient and cost-effective logistics network.

In 2023, the Philippines recorded its highest yield of 20.6 million metric tons (MMT) of palay across 4.82 million hectares of rice fields.

The Masagana program aims to increase palay production beyond 25 MMT. — Brix Lelis