74-year-old grandma makes it big in hybrid rice farming

In San Isidro, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, there is this 74-year-old grandma who harvests 150 bags of hybrid rice per hectare. In 2001, her area for hybrid rice production increased to five hectares and the average yield was recorded at 170 bags (nine metric tons) per hectare posting a net profit of P41,000 per hectare in one cropping season. An annual income of over P400, 000 in two croppings per year posting a net profit of P41,000 per hectare per cropping season.

Lola Luz–for her achievement–is helped by Raul Tambalque (agricultural technician cum seed inspector) who convinced her to plant hybrid rice. For free rice hybrid seeds she got from Philrice through the interceding of Tambalque and seed coordinator Rose Mediano throughout the growing season

At first Lola Luz was not convinced but she let Raul proceed with the venture. With his guidance, they started their hybrid rice production. A bountiful harvest of 140 bags of palay was the result, a record in their area at that time

The important factors aside from using hybrid rice seed are thorough land preparation; proper water management; proper seedling management; use of a combination of organic (pig or chicken manure) and inorganic fertilizers and kuhol management, she stressed

Kuhol management is an innovation that also played an important factor in her clinching the national outstanding farmer award.

After transplanting, do not irrigate the rice field for five days. On the sixth day, flood the field for at least 24 hours. On the seventh day, drain the field for five days to allow the weeds to grow. On the 12th day, irrigate the field for three days so that kuhol will come out and eat the weeds

As far as marketing is concerned, Lola Luz personally goes direct to several big grains buyers negotiating for a reasonable.price. This way she is able to obtain a better price for her produce. Fortunately, she has not encountered any problems with her hybrid rice production. She is grateful to the full technical support from the municipal and provincial agricultural technicians and the Department of Agriculture regional technical experts.