BE RICEPONSIBLE: NIA VI CELEBRATES THE 2023 NATIONAL RICE AWARENESS MONTH WITH DA

The National Irrigation Administration Regional Office VI together with the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Stage II, attended the annual National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) kick-off event held in SM City Iloilo earlier today. The Department of Agriculture Western Visayas - Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) spearheaded the event to celebrate the country’s rice producers and raise awareness of responsible rice consumption.

Western Visayas is one of the Philippines’ top rice producers with 332,473 hectares of rice fields mostly irrigated by NIA Region VI also has a recorded 382,981 RSBSA-registered rice farmers. These figures represent the capacity of the province to help the Philippines increase rice supply and become self-sufficient.

Senior Executive Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture Domingo F. Panganiban graced the events and emphasized the vitality of rice in every Filipino diet and economic development.

Engr. Robertino O. Lapeña, Division Manager of the Engineering and Operations Division, briefly discussed the services and programs of NIA to improve rice production and assist farmers through sustainable irrigation services. As NIA aims to increase the country’s agricultural productivity, Engr. Lapeña highlighted the agency’s partnership with the farmers and R.A. 10969 known as the Free Irrigation Service Act (FISA), which enables the farmers to receive irrigation services for free and have bountiful harvests.

NRAM kick-off event was full of engaging activities and motivational messages from the country’s pillars of agriculture. The National Irrigation Administration is devoted to continually serving the farmers with the utmost respect and sustainable irrigation services.

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