NE farmer gets near world record rice harvest

SAN JOSE CITY – This one is for the Philippine Agriculture record book.

A multi-awarded farmer in this Nueva Ecija city has chalked up back-to-back feats in rice production.

In one hectare of his 19-hectare farm at barangay Tondod here, Fernando Gabuyo Jr. harvested 335 cavans last April 18 out of a hybrid rice variety, SL-8, bred by SL Agritech.

In another hectare, he reaped 332.5 cavans last April 14 out of the hybrid Bigante of Bayer CropScience.

Records show that the world’s highest yield is more than 17 metric tons/ha realized in China, which developed the first hybrid rice. Australia’s highest harvest has been recorded at 16.8 MT/ha (336 cavans/ha), as gathered by this writer from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).

A number of factors contributed to the record harvest, the highest so far in the country.

First, the variety planted were hybrids.

Second was the application of additional inputs that enabled the rice plants to become robust and more high-yielding. This was on top of the inorganic fertilizer (11 sacks/ha) used by Gabuyo.

Third was the innovativeness of Gabuyo who, throughout his 34 years of farming together with his wife Erlinda, 54, has mastered the scientific way of rice production. From a few hectares when they began farming, the Gabuyos, parents to three professionals and a high school student, now own 19 ha.

At best Gabuyo’s feat bolstered the advantage of a hybrid rice variety, which is the product of crossing two rice plants with superior qualities. The superior qualities of both parents are passed on to the seed which results in a phenomenon called "hybrid vigor" or "heterosis."

The young seedlings produce long roots and broad leaves that enable them to take up more nutrients from the soil and thus produce more grains.

Moreover, Gabuyo applied other scientifically tested inputs developed by Philor headed by Puyat, an economist-inventor who has for years now been deeply engaged in research.

The inputs and their dosages are: Philor ANAA, a liquid, 4 liters/ha; X-Rice, a powder, 3 kg/ha; XEMAS, a powder, 100 grams/ha; and potassium sulfate, a powder, 2 kg/ha. With these small but effective dosages, production cost is minimal, which is easily offset by the high yield.

ANAA and X-Rice, both developed by Puyat, are now commercialized. XEMAS, which Puyat innovated on, is being tried. Potassium sulfate is a common fertilizer.

As explained by Philor, ANAA (which stands for alpha, naphthalene acetic acid) is a plant hormone that enhances root development and plant growth.

ANAA, launched in 1978 had been proven effective in orchids. In trials done in 2003-2005, it was also found viable in rice plants, corn, mango, and other vegetables.

Gabuyo, in an interview with The STAR at his residence and farm here (with other information volunteered by Malunay and Avila), said that throughout the 114-day cropping season (seeding to harvest), he applied ANAA five times.

The first was during the penultimate day of the 18-day seedbed stage and the rest were during critical stages of the rice plants.

X-Rice, a fertilizer enhancer (soil ameliorant) that has a water soluble silicon, neutralizes soil acidity, Malunay, said.

X-Rice, according to Philor also noted that X-Rice controls the toxic effect on plants of excessive elements (iron, manganese, aluminum, and nitrogen) in the soil. It expands the path of fertilizer and trace elements from the root toward the stems and leaves of plants.

Moreover, it enhances the plant’s capacity to absorb nutrients from the soil and strengthens the stems and leaves ("armor protection"), thus, insects could not easily harm the plants.

Gabuyo applied X-Rice twice: basal application at seven days after transplanting (DAT) and at 30 DAT.

XEMAS stands for Xtremely Effective Microorganism Activated Solution. When sprayed on rice straw, it enhances their decomposition, thus making their nutrient contents easily assimilated by the rice plants. It also loosens the soil structure for easy penetration of the root system by the soil nutrients.

Potassium sulfate assists the plants in fruit development, it makes the fruits heavier and the plants sturdier.

The synergistic relationship of Gabuyo and Puyat began following the farmer’s winning the top prize in last year’s "Bigante Higanteng Ani award given by Bayer CropScience.

On reading in a newspaper Gabuyo’s feat, Puyat called up Malunay and asked if he could help arrange a meeting with the San Jose City farmer.

In their first meeting, Puyat asked Gabuyo if he could try his products. Gabuyo agreed.

The first trial took place in the 2004 wet season (WS, July-October).

Gabuyo applied Philor ANAA and X-Rice. He harvested 192 cavans/ha of Bigante and 177 cavans/ha of Rc 82 (an inbred or ordinary rice).

In the current dry season (DS), he reaped 335 cavans/ha from SL-8 and 332.5 from Bigante (the yield during the DS is much more than during the WS).

For his outstanding accomplishments as a farmer, Gabuyo has been recipient of a number of awards over the years.

Last year alone, he won four awards: Outstanding Hybrid Rice Commercial Grower from the Department of Agriculture; Bigante Higanteng Ani award (first prize, Luzon) from Bayer CropScience; Outstanding Farmer of San Jose City; and Outstanding Farmer-Participant in the Hybrid Rice Timpalak Angat Ani at Kita (HYTAK).