By: Rey Anthony Chiu

Take it from the local experts. National data may rate Bohol’s average rice yield an average per hectare basis but local authorities have seen a 9.5 to 10 percent increase its recorded average yield from January to June this year compared to the previous cropping. According to the records from the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Promotion Center (DA-APC) in comparison to January to June in 2010, they have noted the promising increase to 2.58 tons per hectare over-all Bohol average yield. Even then, this has pegged an over-all rice sufficiency level of 112-115 percent. This means that the total rice production here is more than enough for Boholanos even if we have groups in the private sector who involve themselves in rice trading outside Bohol, says Liza Quirog. Citing data from the DA, the provincial agriculturist also added almost 70% of the total production of Central Visayas is in Bohol. The problem however is that there is still a considerably low average harvest yield on a per hectare computation in Bohol compared to other provinces.

To that, the office of the Provincial Agriculture, through its assistant provincial agriculturist accounts the larger rain-fed areas which are much dependent on the rain and spring sources than those which are irrigated. Larry Pamugas cited that only around 47% or our total rice area is irrigated while he 53% are rainfed. Data shows that Bohol has 22,098 hectares of irrigated lands under National Irrigation Authority (NIA) control while 25, 280 hectares are rainfed. Sources also disclosed that while irrigated farms are assured of a year round cropping, rain-fed lots would be dependent on the rains that come so that some of these farms would only get a single cropping on a year. Over this, NIA has recommended that the general direction on irrigation in Bohol would focus on Small Farm Reservoir systems, small water impounding, pump irrigations and small concrete diversion dams, which are targeted for rain-fed areas. Accessed through grants, these smaller reservoir projects are more economical and effective, costs much less and has a high impact as it reaches far flung areas, explains Engr. Eugene Cahiles. The agriculture authorities here however said much could still be done to hit a 2.74 tons per hectare target within the next few croppings.