Hybrid rice production contest now on

The second annual “Gintong Butil” hybrid rice production contest covering the dry season period from November 2007 to April 2008, is now open.

Henry Lim Bon Liong, chairman and chief executive officer of SL Agritech Corp., said the competition is open to all SL-8H hybrid rice farmers nationwide. Winners will receive the “Gintong Butil” Achievement Award “for outstanding performance in the production of hybrid rice,” plus cash prizes totaling P200,000.

Last year, 12  farmers from Pangasinan, Biliran, Mindoro Occidental, Ilocos Norte, Camarines Sur, and Nueva Ecija, were recipients of the awards which is jointly sponsored by SL Agritech Corp. and the Philippine Agricultural Journalists (PAJ) in cooperation with the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Two special “Gintong Butil” Achievement Awards were given last year to Aida Badong, a 53-year-old lady farmer from Barangay San Nicolas in Baao, Camarines Sur who made a record harvest of 344 cavans per hectare by planting the SL-8H super hybrid rice variety.

The other awardee was Fernando Gabuyo of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, whose recorded harvest was 335 cavans per hectare.

“I am happy to note that more and more farmers now are planting hybrid rice variety which increases not only their harvest many times more but has also greatly increased their income,” Lim said, adding that hybrid rice technology is one of the key technologies that can make the Philippines self-sufficient in rice.