Barangay Remebella is one of the rice producing barangays of Buguey town in Cagayan. It has over 200 hectares (has) planted with hybrid seeds and 33.40 has planted with inbred seeds. Rice production is the main source of income of the community.
According to Mr. Danilo Rumpon, Municipal Agriculturist (MA) of Buguey, a hybrid rice package of technology (POT) was conducted in the area to boost the local agricultural productivity.
'The project aimed to increase productivity of farmers, availability and affordability of rice and increase farmer's competencies in rice production,' he said.
'There is a potential market and income derived from this crop because of high adoption rate of hybrid rice POT in the area. With its success, the residents and the LGU are planning to sustain the project,' he added.
Among the interventions included in the project were hybrid seeds usage, integrated nutrient management, EMRCT, irrigation, postharvest facilities and capacity building of farmer-cooperators.
Buguey is the only municipality in the Cagayan Province that registered the largest compact area planted to hybrid rice having an average yield of more than 10 metric tons (MT) per ha.
'This is why the farmers request for the provision of multi-purpose drying pavement (MPDP) to further improve rice production in the area,' DA-II Center Chief Engr. Rodolfo Bayucan said.
Following the successful attainment of the10 MT/ha average rice productivity target, Executive Director Lucrecio Alviar immediately directed that the municipality be granted an MPDP project.
Alviar also instructed the documentation of the best practices of the area, as well as the cost and return analysis to be disseminated to other agricultural stakeholders.
As per data gathered and computed by the team, farmers in the area recorded an average yield of 10.93 MT/ha or 218.6 cavans at 50 kilograms (kg)/cavan (fresh weight) with a return on investment (ROI) of 239.45%. The increase in yield was attributed to the use of hybrid rice varieties and the rice POT.
Hybrid rice is proven to have a 15% yield advantage over that of inbred varieties. As such, the whole barangay has adopted the technology.
Farmer cooperators revealed that their income significantly increased enabling them to send their children to school, build their houses and buy furniture and appliances.
Barangay Captain Rey dela Cruz started to plant inbred varieties like PSB Rc18, Rc82, Rc 90 and RC 64 in 2008. He used to harvest 4.5 T/ha only. With his fervent desire to increase his income, he participated in numerous government and private sector-led projects. He became an active farmer-cooperator in the techno-demo project of the DA and other hybrid rice seed companies. Applying the technologies he learned such as the use of certified hybrid seeds and application of right amount and of-quality fertilizers, he was able to harvest 10 MT/ha. As a result, he was able to build a house and buy his own hand tractor.
To be able to share his success, he encourages his fellow farmers to participate in agricultural programs offered by the DA and LGU.
Felimor Lucas, another beneficiary, revealed that choosing the right variety and preparing a good seedbed are among the strategies he employed to his one (1) hectare farm. Lucas' most recent yield is pegged at 209 cavans at 50kg/cavan.
Other farmers emphasized the importance of plant spacing and maintaining the good plant population as best factors for attaining higher yield. They thanked the DA for providing efficient and effective interventions.
'Salamat sa DA, napaunlad naming ang aming pagsasaka at nakamit an gaming mga pangarap,' they exclaimed. ### (DA2-RAFIS)
***The 'Hybrid Rice Production and Commercialization Project and Expanded Modified Rapid Composting Technology (EMRCT): under the Bottoms-Up-Budgeting (BUB) Project' was conducted during the 2nd quarter of 2015 at Remebella, Buguey, Cagayan. The project was spearheaded by the Local Government Unit of Buguey in collaboration with DA-RFO 02 during the 2014-2015 dry cropping season.
Department of Agriculture of the Republic of the Philippines issued this content on 2016-01-22 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-22 08:14:13 UTC
Original Document: http://www.da.gov.ph/index.php/2012-03-27-12-04-15/2012-04-17-09-30-59/7305-getting-high-on-hybrid-rice
