The Department of Agriculture to recalibrate the Masagana program in the Philippines

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday announced it is reviewing the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), an initiative aimed at boosting the country’s rice production. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA is undertaking a comprehensive review of MRIDP to ensure increase in productivity will result in a significant increase in farmer’s income. Under the rice program, an initiative inspired by the Masagana 99 program under late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s administration, the Agriculture Department seeks to produce high-quality rice seeds, optimize the utilization of fertilizers, and develop a logistics network to bring harvests to market and inputs to farms more efficiently and cost-effectively. “We're recalibrating the program to identify areas for enhancement, including the distribution of improved seeds, expansion of irrigation systems, and adjustments to rice cropping schedules," Tiu Laurel said. Last year, the ...