SL Agritech to produce hybrid rice seeds in Indonesia

Indonesia, one of the world’s biggest rice consuming countries, will soon become the biggest hybrid seeds production site of SL Agritech Corp., according to Henry Lim, the firm’s chairman and CEO.

“In our partnership agreement with PT Sang Hyang Seri, the Indonesian government firm, Indonesia will become our biggest SL-8 hybrid seeds production site. We already have one in Bangladesh and towards the end of this year, we will have another production farm in Vietnam,” Lim said, adding that he was very happy “these countries are beginning to appreciate and recognize the benefits of planting our high-yielding hybrid seeds.”

With a population of 230 million, Indonesia envisions to plant up to five million hectares of hybrid rice in the next five years.

“Starting April this year, we will no longer export our SL hybrid seeds to that country as they will already be producing them in big quantity. They have initially allocated over 1,600 hectares for the purpose,” Lim said.

Last year, SL Agritech, the country’s top hybrid rice seeds producer, exported a total of 550 metric tons (MT) of SL-8 hybrid seeds to Indonesia. The same year, it again exported another 750 MT to that country as part of its efforts to accelerate growth in its rice production.

Lim said SL Agritech will limit its seeds exportation “to ensure that we will always have ready supply for our own farmers.”

“It is indeed a pity kung uunahin pa nating makinabang ang magsasaka sa ibang bansa kesa sa ating magsasaka sa pagtatanim ng hybrid rice, kaya kami gumawa ng ganitong hakbang,” Lim said.

At the same time, Lim cited the need for the government to launch a massive information campaign for the propagation of hybrid rice as its adoption rate is still low as it is still a new rice technology and since, he said, the government is no longer subsidizing its production this coming dry season up to 2010.