The Provincial Government of South Cotabato, led by Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) headed by Provincial Agriculturist Raul D. Teves, DVM, is strengthening climate-resilient agriculture through a methane reduction initiative in Surallah.
The province is supporting the Methane Gas Reduction Project through the introduction of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology in Barangay Dajay, Surallah. The initiative covers approximately 100 hectares of rice fields under the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program and benefits farmer-members of the Upper Valley Agriculture Cooperative.
The initiative is backed by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Surallah and Sultan Kudarat State University, ensuring technical support, field monitoring, and research-based implementation.
AWD technology promotes efficient water management by allowing rice fields to undergo controlled drying periods, reducing water use by 15–30 percent, lowering methane emissions, and potentially improving rice yields through better root and nutrient development.
The project also gained interest from international partners, including representatives from of Verde Carbon Capture Inc. and Honda and Mitsubishi Corporation, who visited project sites in Surallah including rice processing center in Banga, to explore potential expansion and future collaboration.
Overall, the program highlights South Cotabato’s commitment to modern, science-based, and environmentally sustainable agriculture aimed at improving productivity while reducing environmental impact.
