Hybrid rice scare a learning experience

SAN ISIDRO, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The hybrid rice scare that swept this pro-vince early last month “was a learning experience to some of our farmers in the province who did not follow the recommended agricultural practices for hybrid rice.”

Gemma Tomas, chairperson of the 300-strong Pagka-kaisa NE Multi-Purpose Cooperative, made this comment during a hybrid rice harvest festival held at the 10-hectare rice farm of Alberto Galvez in Barangay Pulo here.

She noted that while some of the farmers did not follow the recom-mended practices for hybrid rice, “I would say that an unusually marve-lous thing hap-pened to their plants whose growth was reportedly stunted (naging bansot) and bore flowers pre-maturely.”

“Masasabi kong ‘miracle’ dahil ang dating pananim na palay na SL-8H va-riety na sinabi sa radio noon na mga bansot and pagtubo ay naging super palay ngayon,” she said, referring to the big harvest made by farmers here and in other towns.

She said the members of here group are expecting “a bountiful harvest” a few weeks from now. “Malamang, kung hindi 190, mga 200 cavans per hectare ang aming aanihin in our 500-hectare hybrid rice farm,” she said.

“I expect to harvest a little more than 200 cavans per hectare from my 10-hectare farm planted to SL-8H hybrid rice variety in Brgy. Santol in Balagtas, Bulacan, she said. The farm is managed by his father, Mang Pio.

“Henry Lim, SL Agritech chairman and CEO, said his firm is sponsoring 22 other hybrid rice harvest festivals this month and next month in three regions of Luzon to promote the bene-fits of hybrid rice production.