The province-led hybrid rice techno demo in Brgy. Violeta, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon showcases appropriate technologies, management practices, among others to increase farmers’ productivity and efficiency.

 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture -Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Rice Program capped the Province-Led Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration in barangay Violeta, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Thursday, March 17.

In line with the DA’s battlecry, “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita”, the hybrid rice techno demo was organized by the agency as a way to top up local rice farmers’ yield and income by upholding the cultivation of hybrid rice variety in their area.

The techno demo ran throughout the course of the 2021-2022 dry cropping season, with the participation of 14 local farmer-cooperators who are members of the Lalawan Sawaga Simaya Communal Irrigators Association, Inc. (LASSIA).

A total of 37.69 hectares of fully irrigated, clustered rice areas in barangay Violeta were piloted as hybrid rice demo farms which served as learning sites for the rice farmers to be adept in advancing hybrid rice production technologies and management practices.

Hybrid rice varieties are known to be superior than “farmers’ saved seeds” in terms of total yield, resistance to diseases and insects, and vigor against weeds.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado said that the first province-led hybrid rice techno demo in Northern Mindanao demonstrates the yield potential of the different hybrid rice varieties that will motivate the farmers to adopt the appropriate technology in their locality that eventually will increase their productivity and efficiency.

Director Collado added that the techno demo exhibits the use of irrigation technology, machinery, pest and diseases, and nutrient management.

Dr. Frisco Malabanan, DA’s adviser for Hybrid Rice Program said the Provincial Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration is being conducted in the whole country, particularly in provinces identified as hybrid rice producers.

“Through this technology, we will cluster the rice farmers into farmers association or cooperative. The clusters will be given full assistance from the DA in partnership with the LGUs. We will capacitate the farmers to process their own products instead of just selling raw materials,” Dr. Malabanan said, bearing the DA’s approach in capacitating the country’s rice farmers.

Some 12 seed companies partnered with DA-RFO 10 in staging the dry season Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration: Bayer Crop Science, Inc., Ramgo International, Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative, SL AGRITECH, Corp., Long Ping Tropical Rice Development Inc., Corteva Agriscience, Seed works Philippines, Inc., Leads Agricultural Products, Corp., Green and Grow Teknologies, Syngenta, Aktiv Multi Trading Co Phils. Inc., Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc.

Each seed company showcased a maximum of 3 hybrid rice varieties as entry to the techno demo.

Featured varieties are: Bigante Plus, Kimbee 58, Mestiso 20, Mestiso 82, SL – 19H, LP 534, LP 2096, LP 205, PHB 77, SL – 20H, Jackpot 102, BIORICE 453, NK 5017, HYVAR S26, TH 82, US 88 and Habilis Plus planted in December of last year utilizing the manual and mechanical transplanting approaches.

To cap the techno demo, a forum was held where each participating seed company champions the best qualities of their entry hybrid rice seeds and shares their applied technologies to the rice farmers.

The yield result per hectare will be revealed after harvesting by end of March this year, which will serve as the bases for identifying the best- performing variety, and ultimately, be declared as the best-suited hybrid rice variety in the subject locality.

The activity was in partnership with the Provincial Local Government of Bukidnon through its Provincial Agriculture Office and the City of Malaybalay and barangay Violeta.# (MGBS, ATalib)