Farmers Using Hybrid Rice Seeds Boosts Yield

Farmers Using Hybrid Rice Seeds Boosts Yield 

by James Earl E. Ogatis

RTD Manuel O. Olanday challenging the members of the Regional Rice Program Technical Working Group to increase yield through the intensified planting of hybrid rice seeds in order to attain 100 percent rice self sufficiency. (James Earl E. Ogatis photo)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) 6 encourages farmers to use hybrid seeds through its high yield technology adoption (HYTA) project which aims to enhance yield and increase production in order to attain 100 percent rice self-sufficiency this year.

According to Reg’l Technical Director Manuel O. Olanday, the HYTA project has a total regional target of 14,550 hectares geared to produce an incremental yield of 34,192.5 metric tons.

Olanday said Iloilo has the highest target area of 6,211 has for hybrid to hybrid planting, followed by. Negros Occidental 3,260 hectares, Antique 1,790 hectares, Aklan 1,602 hectares, Capiz1,252 hectares, andGuimaras 435 hectares.

Rene B. Famoso, Agri-Pinoy Rice Program Action Officer said that under the HYTA project, the DA will provide farmer beneficiaries with 15-18 kilogram hybrid rice seeds, one bag urea, and one bag triple 14 fertilizer per hectare.

Famoso explained that these interventions will be given to identified farmers who are members of farmers’ association, irrigators’ association and cooperatives.

He said that five identified hybrid rice varieties such as Bigante plus, SL-18/SL-8, TH-82, PHB-81 and M-3/M-7 which performed well in Western Visayas will be procured for the project depending on the farmers’ preference.

“This project is a plant-now-roll-over scheme wherein the DA procures inputs and distributes to FAs/IAs. Upon harvest, farmers will pay the equivalent amount to the IAs/FAs. The repayment funds will become part of the capital build up of the IAs and FAs for use to buy succeeding inputs for the next cropping season.” Explained Famoso.

He stressed that non-pay or individual farmer-beneficiaries will be replaced on the next round of the project while the FAs/IAs with below 80 percent repayment collection will automatically cannot avail of the succeeding additional interventions on HYTA.  /MP