LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – This agricultural province, the third largest rice producing area in the country, posted a rice sufficiency level of 152 percent, according to a report from the Office of the Governor.
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. reported that from July 1, 2007 to June 30, palay production reached 1,057,117 metric tons harvested from 233,814 hectares.
He said productivity is 4.52 metric tons per hectare or 90 cavans per hectare. This translates to 21,142,329 cavans of rice produced for the said period.
However, corn production for this year also reached 249,974 metric tons from a total harvested corn area of 43,099 hectares.
Espino said this registered a productivity rate of 5.8 metric tons per hectare is still higher than the productivity record of 5.3 metric tons per hectare in 2006.
He also reported that the agricultural stations under the provincial government used as demonstration farms in the towns of Sta. Barbara, San Quintin, Dasol and Mangatarem are being transformed as site for the production of vegetable gardens, hatcheries for tilapia and catfish and area for livestock for superior breeds of cattle, pigs and goats.
The station in Libsong, Lingayen is focused in producing tilapia and catfish hatchery while the one in Arnedo, Bolinao undertakes mangrove production on one side and high value fish on the other side. The station in Natividad town is also being renovated as demo station for livestock. – Eva Visperas