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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking a higher budget for the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) initiative so it can be upscaled in the Philippines.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said that the SRI program of the DA has an approved budget of P250 million for its implementation.
However, he said that he hopes “that a bigger budget would be allocated for SRI in the future.”
“As conventional rice production practices become increasingly unprofitable, many farmers are turning to SRI as a means to continually enhance and embrace a more efficient and effective approach to rice cultivation,” the DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) said over the weekend.
SRI is a climate-smart, agroecological methodology for increasing the productivity of rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water, and nutrients.
According to Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council-Zamboanga Peninsula Vice Chairman and SRI practitioner Adelberto Baniqued, there are already various initiatives to implement SRI around the country, but financing prevents it from being widely practiced.
Sebastian said the Philippines has been left behind by other countries in terms of reaping the benefits of SRI.
He also emphasized the importance of implementing farm clustering for local farmers to maximize the benefits of SRI.
“This would allow them to negotiate for more premium rice prices, thereby improving their income,” Sebastian added.
In a statement last week, the DA noted that SRI could help address rising input costs and water insufficiency for cultivating rice as the country faces another El Niño weather disturbance.
Under the SRI, rice plants are spaced wider and the use of natural inputs like farm wastes and manure is encouraged to reduce the use of chemical inputs. Also, soil health is constantly monitored.
Sebastian believes that the SRI has a big future in the Philippines.
To further identify the innovations and policy gains in SRI, the PCAF hosted a forum that addressed the need for an increased budget allocation for organic inputs, inclusion in research and development initiatives, and enhanced information campaigns.
Various country case studies on the benefits and challenges in the promotion, adoption and scaling-up of SRI in India, Indonesia, Chile and the Philippines were also discussed during the forum that was attended by over 130 participants from the industry.
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