Not just filled to its mouth, the region's rice bowl that is Bohol must withstand the threat and pressure of climate change with government efforts tended to be firmer towards this goal. This explains the high relevance and premium given the so-called Location-Specific Technology Development (LSTD), a banner food production program in Bohol that pursues the project Bohol Rice UP (Upat Pataas). Versatility in methods and adaptability of crops, which include other major and high- value farm products, scale heavily on taming the agro-climatic conditions, according to Gov. Edgar Chatto. Engr. Leo Javier of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) acknowledged the implementation of the Bohol Rice UP with LSTD as a focal strategy.

Javier, who is the PhilRice-Negros branch manager, underscored in his letter to the Bohol governor the latter's presence during the Farmer's Field Day and Forum in Candijay on Wednesday. The field day showcased one of the LSTD demonstration sites in the province situated in barangay Mahangin. The affair also tightened the collaboration between the PhilRice, Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit VII, National Irrigation Administration, provincial government and local government unit. The forum provided the farmers a venue for addressing issues and concerns affecting them. For the 2006-2010 period, the PhilRice has innovated and implemented three rice programs for favorable and unfavorable ecosystems, and knowledge management and promotion. Activities have been focused, output-driven and anchored on the technology needs of the integrated rice crop management and rice-based farming systems.

These have been designed for more efficient and effective schemes for technology generation, packaging and delivery to the farmers. The Chatto administration's food thrust tapping apt sufficiency mechanisms that consider the impacts of economic and climatic conditions on farmers' capacity and farm production was likewise sounded in other events over the weeks. These affairs included the Season-Long Training on Protective Culture for High-Value Fruits and Vegetables Field Day in Duero, graduation and launching (in the barangay level) of the Farmer-Scientists RDE Training Program in a Corn-based Production System for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Corella and Danao, and Food Supply Chain Summit by the Land Bank in tandem with the Department of Agriculture. Earlier this month, Chatto attended in Albay the governors' summit on mainstreaming climate change adaptation which would have significant impact on agriculture, a backbone industry that complements with other economic growth accelerators like tourism. (Ven rebo Arigo)