Addressing rural poverty and in pursuing its vision and objective as a major food basket in MIMAROPA region.

Agricultural Development

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in coordination with the Department of Agriculture performed function in harmonizing, unified and effective implementation of agriculture and fishery development program in Occidental Mindoro in increasing agricultural productivity and income as a strategic measures in addressing rural poverty and in pursuing its vision and objective as a major food basket in MIMAROPA region.

• Rice Program
  
  In cropping year 2020, Occidental Mindoro registered an annual production area of 101,915.6 hectares with the volume of production amounting to 489,082.99 metric tons and an average yield of 5 metric tons per hectare.
  
  A net production of 489,082.99 metric tons and 220,882.00 metric tons in palay form and in Rice form, respectively, was recorded this year. With a population of 538,145 and total consumption of 76,508.07metric tons, the province has a surplus of 144,374.00 metric tons.
  
  The province of Occidental Mindoro obtained the high rice self-sufficiency level due to the following factors:

• Cassava Program
  
  Cassava has been selected as the 3rd priority commodity of the province of Occidental Mindoro for the Philippine Rural Development Project proposed interventions. The cassava industry in the province has the assurance of market particularly for animal feed purposes. By-products such as dried granulated cassava is increasingly used by the leading feed manufacturers in the Philippines as an alternative or substitute to corn. This development opened up opportunities for small-holder farmer-producers to engage in cassava production, being a good source of additional income aside from rice and corn, their major crop. Cassava also serves as the staple food of the indigenous people (IPs) in the province, the Mangyans, with an estimated population of about 50,356. This year, a total of 1,616.32 hectares was used in cassava production. The provincial government and the Department of Agriculture distributed a total of 1,642 bundles of cassava planting materials to 119 beneficiaries in the municipalitites of Mamburao, Paluan, San Jose, Rizal, and Sablayan.
  
  
• High Value Crops Development Program
  The High Value Crops Development Program is one of the banner programs of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist created to help address food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. Strategically, HVCDP helps to increase income, create livelihood opportunity and contribute to the agricultural development of the province.
  
  Onion as priority commodity of the province has a total area planted of 2,515.59 hectares and total volume of production of 17,860.68 metric tons with the average yield of 7.10 metric tons per hectare. Garlic Production has a total area of 187.84 hectares and a total production of 1,007.00 metric tons with an average yield per hectare of 5.36 metric tons. Likewise, 636.40 hectares were planted to assorted lowland vegetable with total production of 7,528.00 metric tons. As support to Production Enhancement on High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) the vegetable seeds and planting materials were distributed to selected vegetable growers’ association.
  
  Under Extension and support, twenty-two (22) AEWs assigned in High Value Crops receiving Incentive Allowance of P3,500.00 per month from the Department of Agriculture. Three (3) trainings were conducted such as Training on Good Agricultural Practices on Onion and Garlic was conducted on San Jose and Mamburao. 
  
  
• Fishery Program
  
  Aquaculture Production Monitored are as follows:
  

• Seaweeds Distribution (DA-Funded) – One hundred (100) tons Seaweed Planting Materials were distributed to 1,000 Seaweeds Farmers of the island Barangays of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. It comprises a total farm area of 50.0 hectares.
  
  
• Provision of Fiberglass Boat, fishing paraphernalia– under the BFAR Livelihood Program, 30 units of 20-footer Fiberglass Boats with complete accessory were given to 30 marginal fisherfolks in San Jose (with counterpart from LGU San Jose) ; 4 units of styrofoam Payao were given to the Rizal Federation of Fisherfolk Associations. The Federation was also awarded with 1 unit 30-footer Fiberglass Fishing Boat, 22 units of 20- footer Fishing Boats with 220 Sets Hook and Line and 22 Sets of Gillnets that was distributed to 48 beneficiaries/members
  
  
• Provision of Inputs Assistance (SAAD) – Some of the Municipalities of the province are under Poverty Line and that most of the poorest families and malnourished children are located in its Fishing Communities. The National Government through the DA-BFAR targeted an area in these fishing communities to extend their help/assistance to uplift their way of living by granting the livelihood projects for Five (5) Years Development Program
  
  
• Distribution of Tilapia Fingerlings – The BFAR also extends their assistance in the Aquaculture /Tilapia Industry in the Provinces of MIMAROPA in order to supplement the needs of all fish farmers. Requests from the LGUs local chief executives were forwarded to the agency subject for the approval of the BFAR Director. LGUs with approved requests are required to submit master list of culturist/beneficiaries and their production data. A total of 4,029,550 tilapia fingerlings were distributed to the beneficiaries.
  
  The Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro procured 350,000.00 pieces of tilapia fingerlings with a total cost of PhP 349,999.75. The number of fingerlings distributed per municipality based on the number of benficiaries are as follows
  
  
• Extension Services/Monitoring of Fish Production – there are fifteen (15) LGUs Agricultural Extension Workers province-wide that render technical assistance and monitor fish production on their respective municipality. They are provided with incentives by the BFAR as counterpart for the implementation of their programs.