To help farmers maximize their production output and yield, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas introduced six recommended hybrid rice varieties through the establishment of a 100-hectare of clustered demonstration farm in Calinog, Iloilo, this year.
The department intends to improve farmers’ hybrid rice technology adoption level as a strategy to attain rice self-sufficiency amid the rising costs of farm inputs, particularly fuel and fertilizer.
In addition to demonstrating the clustering strategy for production, harvesting, processing, and marketing, the Community Hybrid Rice Model Farm (CHRMF) Project aims to generate data that will encourage the adoption of preferred hybrid rice varieties, technologies, and management techniques.
According to Karen Mae Hipolito, Agriculturist II of DA Western Visayas, they tapped 105 farmer cooperators enrolled in the government’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and members of 12 farmers associations (FAs) in the project.
With the support of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Calinog, DA implemented its hybrid rice derby project in the 100-hectare contiguous area involving the barangay FAs of Badlan Grande, Badu, Impalidan, Cabagiao, Camalongo, Canabajan, Gama Grande. Guiso. Malitbog, Maspasan, and Nalbugan.
Hipolito added that the agency supported the farmers with a total of 141 kilograms of hybrid seeds of the following varieties: Long Ping 937, Hatao Liksi, Jackpot, Bigante Plus, and SL 19. Farmers broadcasted the seeds directly using a granular applicator at 20 kilograms per hectare seeding rate, manual transplanting at 18 kilograms per hectare, and using a ride-on type transplanter at 15 kilograms per hectare.
Aside from hybrid seeds, DA also provided P147,753.00-worth fertilizer vouchers and technical assistance through farmers’ field schools to ensure that farmers employ the recommended rice production techniques necessary to boost their palay production volume.
Calinog municipal mayor Francisco Calvo pointed out his support for the DA’s campaign to farmers to follow cost-efficient and effective ways of growing rice. He also advocated using modern farm machines, particularly the rice combine harvester, which helps increase farmers’ income by reducing grain or postharvest losses and labor costs.
In the field day held recently, most farmer cooperators said they preferred planting SL 19 and Jackpot hybrid rice varieties based on the standing crop, the number of tillers, and projected output.
“Kita subong nagahiwat sang aton field day agud ipa kita ang naga kalain lain nga potensyal sang mga hybrid varieties dri sa Calinog. Ipadayon ang ini nga programa sa second cropping para ma validate ang adoptability sang naga kalian lain nga hybrid varieties,” added Hipolito.
She also mentioned that DA is implementing the project in Banga, Aklan; Hamtic, Antique; Cuartero, Capiz; and Sibunag, Guimaras, during the wet and dry cropping seasons of 2022-2023. Cadiz City and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental are the additional sites for the CHRMFproject beginning this second cropping. ### Sheila Mae H. Toreno/DA-RAFIS 6
