Plant At The Same Time

To Avoid Rice Pest Buildup

Don’t let rice pests and diseases be your worst nightmares. Prevent their buildup, and practice synchronous planting. This advice comes from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice), Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

Synchronous planting requires all farmers in a community to plant rice within one month.

According to PhilRice training specialist Rolando San Gabriel, synchronous planting is a good start in rice production for it avoids the overlapping populations of insects and diseases.

This planting scheme is done within 14 days before and 14 days after majority of the irrigation service area has been planted. Likewise, it means planting after a fallow period of at least 30 days after harvest.

“Through synchronous planting, the incidence and severity of tungro and bacterial leaf blight during the wet season, as well as the attack of the stem borer in dry season may be prevented,” San Gabriel also said.

Studies showed that high level of stem borer infestation can cause yield loss as high as 50 percent. Bacterial blight accounts for 30 to 40 percent yield loss, while tungro may even reach 100 percent if rice is highly susceptible and infected at the early stage of its growth.

San Gabriel advised to follow the local planting calendar to also maximize the use of irrigation in the community.

This planting scheme is in Key Check No.3 of the Palay Check system, which requires farmers to “practice synchronous planting after a fallow period.”

The Palay Check system is a package of rice farming technologies and practices focusing on the importance of following the Key Checks in enhancing farmers’ productivity.

By simply practicing synchronous planting and following all the recommended crop management practices, farmers’ yield would surely increase.

PhilRice is a government-owned and –controlled corporation attached to the Department of Agriculture that aims at developing high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos. /MP