The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday encouraged seed companies to take the challenge in promoting hybrid rice technology to the local farmers.

DA regional executive director Crispulo Bautista Jr., during the Hybrid Rice Derby Field Day and Farmers’ Forum at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) multi-purpose gym in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, said it is about time for the seed companies to help them in promoting hybrid rice technology through the conduct of techno-demo in every province.

“With the leadership of our Secretary (William Dar), ang isang factor o ang isang dahilan kung bakit tayo nagkaroon ng sapat na pagkain ay (one of the factors or reasons why we have sufficient food is) through these hybrid seeds,” Bautista said in the live streamed event.

He cited the case of Nueva Ecija where the yield of hybrid seeds was higher as compared to inbred seeds during the dry season.

“Ang inbred umaabot lang ng mga 5.6 tons per hectare, average iyan. Ang hybrid umaabot as high as 7.8 tons per hectare (The yield from inbred seeds only reached 5.6 tons per hectare in an average while the yield from hybrid seeds reached as high as 7.8 tons per hectare,” he said.

Based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the province of Nueva Ecija recorded a total output of 770,830 metric tons in terms of the volume of palay production in the second quarter of this year.

During the event, seven seed companies –Corteva Agriscience, Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc., Bayer, LongPing, SeedWorks, Syngenta, and SL Agritech Corporation– presented the different hybrid rice technologies for the wet cropping season.

Bautista said the event aims to promote to the rice farmers various cultural management and practices and the importance of using hybrid rice seeds in achieving a higher production volume as part of the Rice Resiliency Project of the Plant, Plant, Plant Program.

“Isa ito roon sa pagtugon natin sa modern technologies para mabigyan natin ng magandang ani at kita iyong ating mga magsasaka. Isa itong model na ipakikita natin sa ating mga magsasaka na ang hybrid seed variety ay adaptable na rito sa ating environment. Ang purpose nitong Hybrid Derby ay para ipakita iyong iba’t ibang teknolohiya sa ating mga magsasaka (This is one of our responses on modern technologies to give good harvests and income our farmers. This is also a model to show to our farmers that the hybrid seed variety is adaptable to our environment. The purpose of Hybrid Derby is to showcase to our farmers the different technologies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bautista reminded the local government units and farmers to report any illegal activities or corruption in the distribution of assistance given by the DA.

The event was in partnership with the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Central Luzon State University, and Provincial Agriculture Office of Nueva Ecija. (PNA)