Cotabato Province remains the top commodity producer in Central Mindanao in 2024, according to an official.
In her recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), Cotabato Province Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza announced that the province has excelled in the commodity production ranking status of 2024 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Based on the data of PSA, the province is No. 1 in rice, cacao, mango, banana (lakatan and cardava), and rubber production on the regional level, followed by corn, coconut, oil palm, cassava, and coffee production.
The governor highlighted that the province also ranked first in the production of mango, banana (lakatan and cardava), and rubber production in Mindanao last year while the province was third in rice and oil palm production and ninth in cacao production.
She added that the province remains number one in banana (lakatan and cardava) and rubber production on the national level while third in mango and oil palm and 10th in rice and cacao production.
Mendoza said the province’s robust commodity production is due to the initiatives of the national government, locally sponsored farmer interventions, and the combined efforts of the local and national governments.
Mendoza also mentioned that the province has worked together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) at both regional and national scales to enhance production yields and increase farmers’ incomes.
She said to increase the rice and other cereal production, the province distributed certified palay seeds, inorganic seeds, hybrid corn seeds, Adlai seeds, organic fertilizers, cassava farm inputs, and two Adlai threshers to over 80,000 beneficiaries/farmers.
The governor stated that farmers of high-value crops received a P48-million aid to boost production and that the provincial government set up a forum for irrigators’ associations with a budget of P222,900, along with training programs for cereal products financed by P469,740.
Mendoza highlighted the launching of the Rice Revolution Program (RRP), a collaborative initiative founded on the principles of convergence, teamwork, and partnership, which aims to assist 7,000 farmers and gather resources from the provincial government, local municipalities, and DA-12.
She also mentioned that the DA-Philippine Rice Institute provided quality rice seeds as a component of the convergence.
She said the National Food Authority (NFA) pledged to buy a segment of the beneficiaries’ crops to guarantee steady demand and enhance production levels.
Mendoza stated that the Serbisyong Totoo Convergence Program in the province persists in evolving and broadening its assistance for rice farmers, with one of its main initiatives being the Palay Marketing Assistance for Legislators and Local Government Units (PALLGU) introduced in 2023.
Based on the provincial government’s PALLGU data regarding unmilled rice, the provincial government will contribute an additional P2 for each type of rice, coupled with another P2 from the provincial government, resulting in a total price of P20 for wet rice and P22 for dry rice.
“We have been prioritizing the agricultural sector during our tenure. We believe that promoting sustainable agriculture ensures food security and long-term environmental health, supports local economies, conserves natural resources, and fosters resilient farming practices,” Mendoza said.
