DAVAO CITY — The rice production in the province of Misamis Occidental significantly increased following the government’s program dubbed as Asenso Rice Farmers Full Assistance Program, a program personally crafted by Governor Henry S. Oaminal for the local farmers iin his province.
Oaminal, who hails from a farmer family once shared to Newsline, “I want our farmers to live a decent life, for people of Misamis Occidental to enjoy the food they harvest from their toil and make them economically stable, which will result to rice sufficiency in my province.”
The program was carefully designed to sustain the basic needs of every farmer from pre-planting stage, vegetation and to production stage using methods which would enhance the production with free fertilizer from the provincial government.
During the year-end evaluation, Oaminal was amazed as the provincial agriculture office reported that the program posted significant increase in rice production which made the rice farmers and their families happy.
Oaminal noted that the previous years production posted only about 4.6 to 4.9 metric-tons per hectare, “With our intervention and the program we implemented, the production increased to 5.6 to 6 metric tons per hectare which is even higher than the national target.”
The provincial government aimed at achieving rice sufficiency given the vast resources and good climate in the different localities.
Despite the damages brought about by the shear line in the province, still, the provincial government was able to realize its dream for the farmers to increase their production.
It can be recalled that the provincial government of Misamis Occidental led by Oaminal, has worked hand in hand with the National Irrigation Administration to rehabilitate the irrigation structures which was damaged by the shear line which hit the province in December 2022.
Oaminal said the effective irrigation and government support to the farmers are important components in their program.
“Ang goal nato nga mo increase ang production yield sa farmers with low production costs so mo increase ang ilang income and at the same time it will also increase the gross domestic product nato diri sa atong probinsya, (our goal is to increase rice production of farmers with low production cost, for the farmers to increase their income and at the same time it will also increase the gross domestic products of the province)” he emphasized.
Under the Asenso Rice program, all farmers will enjoy free access to farm equipment from pre-planting to post harvest and farm implements are provided by the government.
“We need to cut the cost of production for the farmers to enjoy the income from their yield,” he said.
Strengthening the local economy through agriculture means full support to our farmers, Oaminal emphasized.
Since Oaminal was elected to the provincial seat, the government has rebranded all its product to Asenso which means “Improvement.”
Aseno Brand was first used in Ozamiz City as it aimed at improving the lives of the people by promoting a new brand of governance since the city used to be associated with illegal drugs and other criminal personalities until the fall of the Parojinog’s in July 2017.
