PILI, Camarines Sur -- This province was ranked number 7 among the field of 84 rice producing areas countrywide in terms of average palay production that further boosted its stature as a surplus rice producer.

        This came out from the report of the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Rice Program (GMA) covering the year 2007.

        Governor LRay Villafuerte has always placed a high premium on agricultural productivity particularly in rice production because of his firm belief that it is crucial to the economic growth and prosperity of the province as well as in improving the quality of life of the rural folks.

        The province of Camarines Sur posted an average palay production of 560,809 metric tons or the equivalent of 11,216,180 cavans last year eclipsing such touted rice producing areas as Tarlac with 557,943 metric tons, North Cotabato with 449,202 metric tons and Maguindanao with 433,766 metric tons.

        Josefa Panambo, OIC-Provincial Agriculturist pointed out that the province has always been a surplus rice producer except in the year 2006 when two super typhoons, Milenyo and Reming visited Bicol region particularly Camarines Sur that resulted in heavy devastation on the province’s agriculture.

        Governor Villafuerte has relentlessly been encouraging farmers to utilize the hybrid rice seed because of its proven high yield and more profits accruing to farmers.

        Every year, the provincial government sponsors the Search for Outstanding Hybrid Rice Farmers of Camarines Sur and cash incentives are given to winning farmers who posted the higher yields in an l-hectare farmland.

        This year, 2008, the governor is launching another incentive program for hybrid rice farmers. Under this innovative project, sets of hand tractors with trailers will be awarded to any farmers’ cooperative or irrigators association who will plant hybrid rice seeds on a contiguous 100-hectare irrigated ricelands. SNIEVES