Bohol Rice UP (UPATPATAAS) Location-Specific Technology Development (LSTD)

Bohol Rice UP! the collaboration of DA-PhilRice with SIKAP/STRIVE Foundation and LGUs [local government units], seeks to develop the technical knowledge of Boholano rice farmers to increase average yield from 2.32 mt/ha to 4 mt/ha. This is achieved through Location-Specific Technology Development (LSTD) using PalayCheck and Palayamanan Farming System, where promotion and adoption of the technologies would greatly contribute to the attainment of food security and poverty alleviation in the province. The first phase of the project covered 325 farmer participants in both PhilRice-led LSTD and ATI-led PFS in Alicia, Candijay, Guindulman, Pilar, and Ubay municipalities. Logical and analytical frameworks were used to measure socio-economic effects in terms of productivity indicators including yield, production and self-sufficiency, and profitability indicators in terms of net farm income. Initial findings showed general improvements in terms of farm yield, efficiency in farm and wholesale level costs, net farm and wholesale incomes, food subsistence level carrying capacity, poverty level carrying capacity and global competitiveness after the project implementation in eight PhilRice-led LSTD sites and four ATI-led PFS sites in two seasons. PhilRice-led LSTD sites generally performed better than the ATI-led PFS sites in terms of socio-economic indicators. This performance difference was more pronounced during the first season of program implementation of wet season 2009. On the other hand, the negative and limiting effects of inadequate irrigation during the second season of program implementation (dry season of 2010) negatively affected some LSTD and PFS sites. To date, 33 LSTD expansion sites were implemented to fast track the institution's goal for rice self-sufficiency by 2013. Data on existing and expansion sites serve as means in monitoring and evaluating the impact of the project relative to rice productivity, attainment of rice self-sufficiency and poverty alleviation.