Philippine Daily Inquirer Digital Edition

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL TO USE 200 HECTARES OF LAND TO BOOST FOOD SECURITY

—CARLA P. GOMEZ

BACOLOD CITY—More than 200 hectares of mostly idle land owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government will be converted for agriculture and livestock purposes.

According to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, the plan was part of the provincial government’s thrust toward ensuring food security for Negrenses.

“There is a sense of urgency so that we can address the gaps in the food supply for Negros Occidental and Bacolod City,” he said on Friday.

Among the areas to be used were the Negros First Ranch (NFR) in Murcia town, where high-quality cattle are being bred under the province’s animal genetic improvement program, and properties in Talisay and Himamaylan cities.

Diaz said the provincial government would directly manage the project sites for the agriculture and livestock program.

“We are meeting with the veterinarians, the farmers and agriculture sectors, so we could already start whatever programs, to produce our food requirements,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can see a planting synchronization efficiency of all our productive lands,” he added.

In his inaugural address on June 25, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Provincial Veterinary Office and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist would complement and integrate their services to provide people with sufficient food sources, including livestock, poultry, swine, crops, vegetables and marine products.

“We need to protect our P6-billion swine industry and P4-billion livestock industry. Negros Occidental is one of the top livestock-producing provinces. We intend to remain as the top backyard producer of hogs. We will continue to improve the genetics of local breeds,” the governor said.

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2022-07-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

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Philippine Daily Inquirer