PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Farmers in Palawan increased their yields between March and September under the provincial government’s Productivity Rice Enhancement Development (PRED) program using hybrid rice seeds.
PRED rice program focal person Ma. Mayla Rebusada said Thursday they have recorded higher yield from 84 farmers, who received financial loans from the provincial government to use the mestizo 20 hybrid seeds.
Based on their study, Rebusada said the average yield of 5.6 metric tons per hectare had been recorded during the wet season between March 16 and September 15.
It was higher by 2.1 metric tons compared to the previous average yield of 3.5 metric tons per hectare, using certified seeds.
“During the first wet season, ‘yon ‘yung March 16 to September 15 planting ay mayroon na tayong nabigyan na (tayo ng hybrid rice seeds na) 200 farmers (During the first wet season between March 16 and September 15 planting, we have given hybrid rice seeds to 200 farmers),” she said.
The other farmers, he explained, have not yet harvested their palay.
The first batch of farmer beneficiaries is from Narra, Aborlan, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Rizal, Quezon, Roxas, and Sofronio Espanola, where it is feasible to plant the hybrid rice seeds.
“’Yong inbreed certified seeds nasa 70 cavans per hectare. Pero ngayong gumamit sila ng hybrid seeds, nadagdagan ng 30 cavans ‘yung kanilang ani kasi 100 cavans na ‘yan (The inbreed certified seeds yield 70 cavans per hectare for them. But when they used the hybrid seeds, 30 cavans were added, they now harvest 100 cavans),” Rebusada said.
She added that a new batch of 200 farmers is now planting the hybrid rice seeds for the September 16 to March 15, 2019 dry season.
PRED is a program of the province that is focused on giving loans to farmers for farm inputs, complete fertilizers, and hybrid rice seeds. (PNA)