TACLOBAN CITY – Farmers in Balangkayan, Eastern Samar are getting a boost in rice production as the provincial government launched a three-day rice-based technology demonstration and intensive training on November 22.
The program, organized by the Office of the Provincial Agricultural Services, selected 25 qualified local farmers cultivating no more than two hectares each.
Participants received both theoretical instruction and hands-on demonstrations of advanced rice-farming methods and farm management practices aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency.
Balangkayan, which ranks third in the province in terms of rice-planted area, has yet to earn the title of “rice granary of the south” due to relatively low production output.
The training seeks to address this gap by equipping farmers with modern techniques and innovative technologies that can enhance yield and strengthen food security—one of Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone’s five-point agenda for agricultural development.
Vice Mayor Edith Anne Contado, representing Mayor Allan Contado, thanked the provincial government for supporting local farmers and highlighted their vital role in ensuring the municipality’s food supply.
Provincial Rice Program Coordinator Teodoro Apura emphasized that initiatives like these are key to empowering farmers, improving rice output, and sustaining the agricultural backbone of Eastern Samar.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
