In a move to address the soaring prices of rice and ensure food security, Antique’s provincial board member, Rony Molina, expressed optimism about increasing palay production in the region. This statement came after the appointment of Gina Jordan as the new head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) was confirmed during a regular session on February 3, 2025.
Molina highlighted that despite Antique’s current rice sufficiency, many residents still struggle to afford rice due to its high market price. He believes that by ramping up production, the cost of this staple could be reduced, making it more accessible to the less fortunate.
Jordan, in her new role, plans to enhance agricultural support across Antique’s 18 municipalities by ensuring each has its own agricultural technician. These technicians will work alongside municipal staff to provide farmers with essential technical assistance in production, processing, and marketing.
Furthermore, Molina urged Jordan to explore strategies for increasing the yield of other crops like corn and high-value produce, aiming for a more diversified and robust agricultural sector.
According to the latest OPA report, Antique produced 226,167.22 metric tons of palay in 2024, significantly surpassing the demand of 72,943.91 metric tons, achieving a sufficiency level of 145.11 percent.