Bayer donates hybrid rice to Yolanda-devastated farmers

MANILA, Philippines - Bayer CropScience has started the distribution of its hybrid rice Arize H64 to a select group of farmers affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda in the farming areas in Leyte and Samar.

A total of 20 metric tons of Bayer CropScience's hybrid rice Arize H64 worth P7 million are to be given to more than 1,000 farmers as start-up rice seed input.

The volume of Arize H64 hybrid rice seeds for distribution can cover 1,300 hectares of rice fields.

"This is our way of helping out our farmers in Leyte and Samar to get back up on their feet after the devastation to their lives and livelihood.”

"We believe that the faster they can start planting rice, the better for them as it will help take their minds away from the disaster and start rebuilding their lives," explained Bayer CropScience Managing Director Hans-Joachim Wegfarht.

Bayer CropScience said farmers will experience the benefits of Arize H64 not only in terms of additional yield but also its early maturing property.

"This program is not the typical dole-out to victims but a way of Bayer CropScience to help farmers start with their rebuilding process and to become self-reliant," said Bayer CropScience Head for Seeds Recher Ondap.

Yield with Arize H64 could go up to 180 cavans or nine metric tons (MT) per hectare. This hybrid rice seed variety has a shorter maturity period. Its grains are long and slender with excellent taste qualities. Test trials show that Arize H64 could be harvested 10 days earlier or in 100-105 days.

Having a shorter maturity period is critical for rice farmers who want to raise their yield and income. Currently, rice farming has two cropping seasons --- the wet season, which starts from May to October, and the dry season, which begins from November and lasts until April.

"With a crop that matures faster, farmers will have the option of planting the next crop which is in between the cropping seasons. It is also less risky during normal planting seasons because you could avoid the extreme weather conditions," said Bayer CropScience Business Development Manager for Seeds Pete Pascual, Jr.

Earlier, Bayer extended immediate financial aid to the value of P5.8 million to the German Red Cross. Bayer also provided the Philippine Red Cross around P23.5 million worth of medicines.

In addition to the immediate relief, Bayer launched a global employee donation drive which the company matched. It has generated Php16million which will be used for a reconstruction project in the affected provinces.