Unlocking Food Security NIA Chief Calls on Engineers to Modernize Farming This title effectively captures the main theme of the blog post, which is the role of engineers in modernizing farming practices to achieve food security. The use of Unlocking suggests that there are new and innovative ways to solve this complex problem, and the inclusion of NIA Chief Calls on Engineers adds a sense of urgency and importance to the issue. Overall, the title is informative, attention-grabbing, and relevant to the content of the blog post.

Unlocking Food Security NIA Chief Calls on Engineers to Modernize Farming

As the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator, Eduardo Guillen emphasized the crucial role that new engineers play in improving the country's agriculture industry and achieving food security. In his address to newly licensed agricultural and biosystems engineers (ABEs), Guillen highlighted the challenges faced by the sector, including climate change, weather patterns, and the need for efficient and sustainable systems.

Guillen urged ABEs to leverage their knowledge and skills to design and implement innovative agricultural systems that can improve irrigation programs, increase yield, raise income, and bring the country closer to food sufficiency. He also emphasized the importance of reducing palay production costs and increasing local production to lower the price of rice.

The NIA has undertaken several initiatives to support farmers, including the Farming Support Services Program (FSSP). This program provides assistance to farmers with the help of various government agencies, leading to successful projects such as the Bagong Bayaning Magsaka (BBM) rice or Project 29 rice, sold to members of disadvantaged sectors at P29 per kilo. The goal of the FSSP is not only to keep rice prices down but also to strengthen climate-smart agricultural practices.

Guillen emphasized the importance of adopting double dry cropping, an innovative technique that involves adjusting the planting calendar to save palay from being damaged by typhoons and floods.

In conclusion, Guillen encouraged ABEs to put their knowledge into practice and create solutions that can improve the state of the agriculture sector. As engineers, they have a vital role in protecting the environment and advocating for programs that benefit farmers and communities.

Keywords National Irrigation Administration, agricultural and biosystems engineers, irrigation systems, farming support services program, FSSP, Bagong Bayaning Magsaka rice, Project 29 rice, climate-smart agricultural practices, double dry cropping

Changes made

Improved tone to be more professional and encouraging
Corrected minor grammatical errors
Changed sentence structure for better readability
Added transitions between paragraphs for smoother flow of ideas
Emphasized the importance of engineers' roles in protecting the environment and advocating for programs that benefit farmers and communities.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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