(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 04 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "JULIAN" {KRATHON} was estimated based on all available data at 240 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (22.6°N, 120.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is almost stationary. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Monday, 6 November 2023

Farmers celebrate increased rice production, improved buying price on hybrid rice

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) - Caraga, in partnership with the local government unit of Carrascal in Surigao del Sur, recently marked its ‘Rice Harvest Festival’ to celebrate the success of the season-long technology demonstration on hybrid rice in Sitio Maslog, Barangay Panikian.

About 100 hectares of various hybrid rice varieties were showcased at the techno-demo farm sites in Carrascal town as part of the DA’s 500-hectare community hybrid rice clustered demo farm established in the province of Surigao del Sur, including the municipalities of San Miguel, Madrid, and Cantilan.

The activity showcased a very promising opportunity for the farmer-cooperators to adopt hybrid technology to rice, as they aimed to produce a minimum of 4.0 metric tons (MT) per hectare and more in every cropping schedule, as the result significantly contributed to Carrascal’s 40% increase in rice production. 

It also provided a higher palay farm-gate price, an average of P21.50 to P22 per kilogram, from the previous buying price of P17 to P19 per kilo.

The Hybrid Rice Program, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), focuses primarily on rice breeding and research to develop high-performing, good-quality, insect-, pest-, and disease-resistant varieties that will increase grain yield and the income of farmers. This program provided all farmer-cooperators of the techno-demo in Caraga region with agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, and technical and extension support. 

In terms of yield, the nationwide average yield of hybrid rice is 4 to 8 MT per hectare, which is higher than that of traditional inbred varieties that can provide only 3-5 MT per hectare. Thus, hybrid rice varieties demonstrated significantly higher yields compared to the other, contributing to an improved overall production level.

Additionally, hybrid rice plants tend to exhibit greater uniformity in growth, maturity, and grain quality, resulting in better buying prices.

As hybrid rice proved to increase yield, Enocencio Minguez, the focal person for the hybridization program, stressed the importance of continuing the program to encourage farmers to adopt hybrid technology.

“We will continue to invite more farmers to go into hybrid rice because it will help increase productivity and income. All hybrid seeds are good. But this techno demo will help the farmer determine the highly productive and most suitable variety in the locality,” Minguez emphasized.

The same delight was felt by the farmers in the municipality of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, during their harvest in the 100-hectare hybrid rice technology demonstration located at Sitio Babadan, Brgy. Libertad, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

The techno demo farm in Bunawan is part of the 1000-hectare community hybrid rice clustered demo farm established at ten farm sites in the province.

Domingo Gaorano, chairperson of the Babadan Irrigators Association, shared that his inbred rice production could only reach 100 bags per hectare, but when he tried the hybrid rice, it reached 130 bags per hectare. This coming harvest, he is expecting 5.6 metric tons or more per hectare. 

DA-Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) provincial chief June Anthony Ouano congratulated the farmers-cooperators for the bountiful harvest. He also thanked the local government unit of Bunawan for accepting the challenge of organizing and embracing this technology and innovation, with emphasis on the fact that this is a good step to foster agriculture and heighten the farmers' income.

"We will always find a way to alleviate the lives of our farmers, and this is one way: increasing rice production. So, we are here to give you more knowledge on how to increase your production and eventually increase your income," Quano underscored.

DA-PhilRice further affirmed that planting hybrid rice is one way to improve competitiveness, as it could increase yield and reduce production costs per kilogram of palay.  

“With this, a possible hybrid rice derby will be initiated during the next cropping season or period to intensify the farmers' usage of hybrid rice seed varieties,” Carrascal agriculturist Japhet C. Sugian revealed.

The plan for the hybrid derby is in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s program to adopt hybrid rice as a better alternative to the inbred variety for increased crop production. It also aims to ensure better yield and better income for the farmer-cooperators and to compete well with farmers in terms of production from other municipalities. 

In the bargain, the government also pushed for sustainable supply and availability of hybrid seeds to address operational expenses for farmers, including production-related and post-harvest machinery, small-scale irrigation, as well as extension and training activities.

As considered a breakthrough in agriculture, the Hybrid Rice Program will boost and strengthen rice production in the country, as the government is optimistic that it will attain its rice self-sufficiency target within two years through increased adoption of hybrid rice technology among our farmers.  (RLE/NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)