Provincial agricultural stakeholders forum held in Capiz

Nearly 50 participants from 17 municipalities across Capiz gathered for the Provincial Agricultural Stakeholders Forum on May 14, 2025, held in Pontevedra. The event was attended by Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAOs), representatives from attached agencies, and key agricultural bureaus.

The forum aimed to unite stakeholders from various sectors within agriculture to foster knowledge sharing, policy development, and collaborative problem-solving. It provided a valuable platform to discuss common challenges faced by farmers and agribusinesses and explore innovative solutions and recent technological advancements to address these issues.

Raoul Perez, Provincial Agriculturist of Capiz, emphasized the importance of the forum, stating, “This is an opportunity for the agri-sector to connect, disseminate information, and share best practices and innovations that will support the development of agriculture, address industry needs, and promote sustainability.”

John Amorsolo, project leader from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas, presented the results of the Participatory Varietal Selection conducted in the province. This initiative validates the performance of newly approved rice varieties, providing essential data to policymakers to guide efforts in upscaling and promoting these varieties. The presentation highlighted rice varieties suitable for rainfed, irrigated, and saline ecosystems, with blast-resistant varieties such as 628, 222, and the 506 series recommended for farmers and local seed growers.

Amorsolo also shared that through the DA-PhilRice Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program, 75,148 bags of quality rice seeds have been allocated to Capiz. The distribution will be coordinated through local government units (LGUs), with recipients undergoing registration and interviews. Updates on seed distribution, encoding, and delivery will be provided by LGU officials.

Engr. Jimmy Eledia Jr., head of the DA Western Visayas Climate and Environmental, presented the seasonal weather outlook for Capiz for the upcoming wet season. Vulnerable areas prone to flooding, such as Dao and Panit-an, were identified through hazard mapping. The forecast also included the expected number of tropical cyclones from May to October 2025.

To support farmers with timely and relevant information, the Farmers Information System (FIS) was introduced. FIS offers access to vital data on weather, market trends, and best agricultural practices to help improve farm management.

Updates from partner agencies including the National Irrigation Association (NIA), National Food Authority (NFA), and PhilRice, were also shared during the forum, strengthening collaboration among stakeholders in Capiz’s agricultural sector.###

Texts and Photos by Joan Capaciete/DA-RAFIS 6