Farmer cooperators of Palay Sikatan technology demonstration farm in Brgy. Inabasan, San Jose, Antique hinted at higher rice yield in utilizing NSIC RC 506, NSIC Rc 222, and NSIC Rc 216 based on the crop stand compared to other varieties introduced by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) – Negros.
In the Palay Sikatan field day held on September 8, rice farmers from the adjacent barangays observed the grains and tillers of palay planted in the six-hectare contiguous demo farm.
PhilRice project development officer Abigail C. Batuto said they are demonstrating the performance of six certified inbred seeds in 12 sites in Panay Island for the wet and dry cropping seasons of 2022-2023.
- National recommended varieties: NSIC Rc 216, NSIC Rc 222, and NSIC Rc 442
- Regional recommended varieties NSIC 480 and PSB Rc 82
- Newly-released variety NSIC RC 506 in the 12 sites
“San Jose and Culasi are the project sites in the Province of Antique. Here in San Jose, we partnered with six cooperators in establishing the techno demo of inbred seeds at 40 kilograms per hectare seeding rate using the granular applicator,” she added.
As a component of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, the Palay Sikatan techno demo seeks to showcase the benefits of growing high-quality inbred seeds following the recommended practices and employing modern farm machines.
San Jose municipal agriculturist Rene Barte lauded the support of PhilRice in translating their rice research pursuits through putting up suitability trials into the goal of increasing the palay output of Antique rice farmers.
He said that most rice farmers in their locality are practicing fallow period before the first planting season. From producing an average of 113 cavans per hectare of palay, Barte is eyeing improved production with farmers adopting PhilRice recommended varieties.
DA Western Visayas’ Regional Information Officer James Earl E. Ogatis urged rice farmers present on the field day to adopt the Balanced Fertilization Strategy or the Abonong Swak Campaign of the agency now that the fertilizer cost remains expensive.
“Avoid burning rice straws after harvest. Use it as fertilizer instead. Known to be rich in phosphorus and potassium, decomposed rice straws from a hectare of rice field equal to one or two bags of urea fertilizer,” Ogatis explained.
He told farmers to utilize tools like the Minus One Element Technique (MOET), Leaf Color Chart (LCC), and Rice Crop Manager (RCM) to determine the right kind, timing and amount of fertilizer to be applied based on the soil nutrient deficiency analysis.
Moreover, he stressed the importance of forming and strengthening farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and enrolling in the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to obtain available interventions from the government, particularly seeds and farm tractors.
Meanwhile, PhilRice RCEF coordinator Rojen Austria said they would start this September the delivery of 3,000 bags of certified inbred seeds to RSBSA-registered rice farmers in San Jose for the 2023 dry season target.
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) representative Engr. John Bermhel P. Denosta enumerated the requirements the FCAs should submit to get qualified for the RCEF mechanization support. He stressed that project recipients must attend training on farm machinery operation, maintenance, and management to ensure the project’s sustainability.
Also present in the activity were Kathlyn Carmelo from the Office of Senator Cynthia A. Villa and representatives from the National Food Authority, Antique Provincial Agriculture Office, and DA-Agricultural Program Coordinating Office.###Sheila Mae H. Toreno/DA-RAFIS 6
