The cluster hybrid rice techno demo of DA-10 in Kalilangan town showcases the performance of 15 hybrid rice varieties to increase farmers’ adoption. 

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a nine-hectare rice farm in barangay Pamotolon of Kalilangan, Bukidnon lies the cluster hybrid rice technology demonstration of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) showcasing the performance of the 15 hybrid rice varieties.

It was concluded in a harvest festival on Monday, March 21 in partnership with private seed companies and a seed producer cooperative, five farmer cooperators, and the local government unit of the said town.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the use of hybrid rice is an approach to improve the yield to more than 6-8 metric tons per hectare given that appropriate farming technologies and good agricultural practices are applied.

Kalilangan town has around 913 registered rice farmers but with less than 10 percent adopters of hybrid rice.

Kalilangan Mayor Omaradji C. Pizarro challenged his farmer constituents to embrace new technologies, “Let us change our old farming practices and let us follow the scientific studies. We must believe in agriculture modernization.”

Mayor Pizarro urged the farmers to observe the showcased technology for them to identify the appropriate hybrid seed varieties suitable in their locality.

“The techno demonstration provides opportunities to the farmers to see the advantages of hybrid rice and the adoption of new technologies that can help improve the farmers’ livelihood and make the rice industry sustainable and sufficient,” said DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, in her message.

The participating 10 private seed companies include Bayer Crops Science, Inc., Ramgo International, Corp., Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative, SL AGRITECH, Corp., Long Ping Tropical Rice Development, Inc., Corteva Agri Science, Seed Works Phils., Inc., Leads Agricultural Products, Corp., Green and Grow Technologies, Aktiv Multi Trading Co. Phils., Inc., and Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc.

One of the farmer cooperators, Shirley A. Tabilla shared, “Matagal na po akong inbred rice seed user pero na amaze talaga ako sa mataas na kita ng hybrid seeds, kaya pumayag ako na maging farmer cooperator sa techno demo. Sana mag hybrid na lahat ang mga kasamahan ko sa aming lugar.”

In Northern Mindanao, three cluster hybrid rice techno demo were conducted in the towns of Maramag and Kalilangan and Valencia City.# (ATC)