Monday, January 30, 2012

Aklan's rice supply to last four months

KALIBO, Aklan, January 30 (PIA) -- Aklan has enough rice supply to last four months, according to the National Food Authority (NFA) here.
According to NFA-Aklan Provincial Manager Procopio B. Trabajo II, this is because of the continuous rice planting activities of Aklan farmers.
“Because of our unpredictable weather, our farmers take advantage of the presence of water in their rice fields. If there is water, they plant,” Trabajo said.
Trabajo said Aklan has a current inventory of 375,593 bags found in households, commercial establishments, and government warehouses. He also revealed that Aklan has long been a rice-surplus province, along with Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo.
The only province in Western Visayas with insufficient rice produce, according to the NFA, is Negros Occidental, because it is more on sugar cane production. Negros Occidental’s rice needs are addressed by the rice surplus provinces in Region 6, Trabajo revealed.
Guimaras, on the other hand, is not a rice surplus- province, however, its produce is enough for the needs of Guimarasnons.
Besides Negros Occidental, NFA- Western Visayas also supplies the needs of other areas like Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Zamboanga.
Despite supplying the rice needs of other provinces, Trabajo assured that Aklanons will not run out of supply, because there are also stocks coming from other provinces that enter Aklan.
He cited Mindoro, Antique and Capiz, whose rice stocks are also brought to Aklan and sold at public markets here.
“When we send out our rice, stocks from other provinces also enter our province, and so Aklan is far from experiencing a rice shortage,” Trabajo assured Aklanons.

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