Phl's hybrid capital in the making

MANILA, Philippines –  Nueva Ecija may soon become the hybrid rice capital of the country as more and more farmers in the province are now planting the hybrid rice variety and using an integrated farming scheme “which has maximized their rice yield and income.”

Dr. Noel G. Mamicpic and Cathy Galura, vice-presidents for quality control and for operations, respectively, of SL Agritech Corp., made this observation following a visit last week to several rice farms in the province where they talked with hybrid rice farmers whom they described as “extremely happy because of the big harvest they are now having by using modern farm methods and technologies.”

“Hamak laki na ang kanilang inaaning palay ngayon than before when they were planting the traditional rice variety and were not working as a group. But now, under a cluster system, their harvest has not only increased tremendously but their income as well,” Dr. Mamicpic said.

The clustering approach is a system of maximizing productivity through proximity and common sharing of resources. The clustering of rice farms was first implemented in 2005 by the Department of Agriculture on selected hybrid rice farms covering a contiguous area of 100 to 200 hectares. 

Galura said the Bagong Buhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BBMPC) in Mabini in Sto. Domingo in Nueva Ecija, a cluster of 200 hectares, “is one example where working together as a group or common sharing of resources, will have tremendous effect especially as regards food production.”

Farmer-members of BBMPC, according to Galura, have been posting an average harvest of 230 cavans per hectare using the SL-8H hybrid rice variety.

Galura and Mamicpic, who are currently visiting hybrid rice farms all over the country with SL Agritech farm technicians, commended the members of the BBMPC, the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NMAPMC) in Talavera, also in Nueva Ecija, and other farmers’ groups practicing the clustering approach “for being receptive in adopting modern farm technologies and practices.”

“While we are all aware of the important role played by technology in our massive food production efforts, there is the apparent need for all of us to keep abreast with the various technological approaches and to continuously be in search of new and better systems towards increased productivity,” they said.