Nueva Ecija's top hybrid rice producers honored

MANILA, Philippines – Ten Nueva Ecija farmers who were adjudged top producers of hybrid rice in this year’s dry cropping season, were honored at rites held last Thursday at the Palayan Convention Hall in Palayan City.

Severino Payumo, 69, bested 45 other farmers in the province who participated in the “search for hybrid rice highest yielder” chalking up a record harvest of 345.6 cavans per hectare by planting the SL-8H hybrid rice variety.

The barangay captain of Buliran in Cabanatuan City, Payumo broke the record of 344 cavans per hectare harvested in May 2005 by lady farmer Aida Badong of San Nicolas, Camarines Sur.

Payumo was followed by Ricardo Buenaventura of Tabacao, Talavera, who produced 266 cavans per hectar, and Severino Velasquez of Barangay Sta. Rita, Jaen, who harvested 230 cavans per hectare. The also planted the SL-8H hybrid seeds variety.

Henry Lim, chairman and CEO of SL Agritech Corp., the country’s top producer of the SL-8 hybrid rice seeds, donated cash prizes and a rice thresher for the first prize winner and a hand tractor and a farm engine for the second and third prize winners, respectively.

The other winners were Benito Guiang, Nicasio Esguerra, Renato Manuel, Ferdinand Pobre, Paquito Agulto, Arturo Niro and Renato Ramos.

The search for the hybrid rice highest yielder was initiated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in coordination with local government agencies, among them the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Food Authority (NFA), Central Luzon State University, National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Units.

Over 2,000 farmers in the 32 towns of Nueva Ecija attended the affair which was also graced by former Food Minister Jesus Tanchanco, Alejandro Abesamis, provincial administrator; Serafin Santos, provincial agriculturist; Dr. Ruben Miranda of PhilRice, Rita O. Lim, Dr. Noel Mamicpic, Cathy Galura and Josie Farnacio of SL Agritech Corp.; Dr. Santy Obien of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and Dr. Ruben Sevilleja of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).