The rice sufficiency level of Western Visayas improved last year after its production reached more than two million metric tons in 2008.

Agriculture Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales said that the overall production has exceeded the regional target of 2.08 million metric tons.  

The increase can be attributed to good climate and wider rice areas. The support of local government units is also vital, he said.

In 2008, Iloilo posted the highest rice production increase of more than 100,000 metric tons.

Nacionales said there is a good chance that Iloilo will now rank as second highest palay-producing province in the country, from number three in 2007.

Iloilo produced of 900,000 metric tons in 2008, from only 823,000 MTs in 2007.

Negros Occidental could also be among the top 10 , Nacionales said.

Gov. Isidro Zayco had earlier the rice production of Negros Occidental grew by five percent in 2008, increasing the province’s rice sufficiency level to 95 percent.

With a production of 435,000 MTs in 2007, Negros Occidental had a sufficiency level of 90 percent, and then ranked 11th  in rice production.

Zayco had also said majority of Negrense farmers have  taken advantage of  the rains and have started planting rice this month to could help boost rice production for the province.*NLG

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