Modern rice farm system pushed

MANILA, Philippines -  A modern system of growing rice, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), has spread to more than 30 countries.

In the Philippines, this system is promoted by the organization SRI-Pilipinas, which distributes free primers and conducts trainings on this modern system.

According to Roberto Ver-zola, SRI-Pilipinas coordinator, farmers who text their complete name and address to 0939-117-8999 will receive by mail the free SRI primer.

Under SRI, Verzola said rice farmers can improve their yields, reduce their costs, and avoid harmful farm chemicals.

He said this can be done by simply changing some traditional practices in planting and growing rice.

Under SRI, rice seedlings are transplanted at a younger age, singly, and at greater distances; the transplanted rice is not flooded continuously; and weeds are controlled by mechanical weeding. The full details are in the free SRI primers distributed by SRI-Pilipinas.