Philippines: Cadiz’s urban rooftop rice farming takes center stage in Negros Occidental

Cadiz takes the concept of green spaces one step further by converting a 105-square meter rooftop of one of over two dozen pavilions in a park into a rice paddy

By Erwin Delilan
Rappler
Apr 21, 2024

Excerpt:

BACOLOD, Philippines – Cadiz City is leading the way in Negros Occidental, showing people how they can become farmers even in urban areas.

While green spaces and green architecture aren’t new, Cadiz has taken the concept one step further by converting a 105-square meter rooftop of one of the over two dozen pavilions in Negros Occidental’s 25-hectare Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, into a rice paddy.

The Cadiz City government showcased the rooftop paddy during the province’s seven-day 28th Panaad sa Negros Festival, which culminated on Sunday, April 21.

Cadiz’s agriculture and engineering offices, which introduced the urban rice farming concept, created a buzz among Panaad revelers and tourists alike.

Architect Ginn Cabahug was behind the captivating green architectural design atop Cadiz’s themed pavilion, which attracted the attention of visitors, both young and old.

Enrique Escares III, city agriculturist of Cadiz, told Rappler on Monday, April 22, that they used the NSIC Rc27 variety of rice, a new variety that can thrive even on rooftops.

Although experimental in nature, Escares said the concept can be sustained through foliar (rice fertilizer) and other rice farming supplements.

The NSIC Rc27 variety matures early, making a palay (unmilled rice) harvest possible after 107 days of planting. Escares recommended this variety for farmers to try due to its drought-resistant nature, as suggested by experts from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

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