Farmers told: Plant hybrid rice

The hybrid rice variety is proven tolerant to typical crop diseases — like Bacterial Leaf Blight, among others — that hamper yield of rice varieties

The high yield of hybrid rice can help increase the local supply of rice.

An agricultural research firm is intensifying the use of its US-88 hybrid rice variety in a bid to help local farmers increase production of high-quality rice.

SeedWorks, a Philippine crop science firm under the International Rice Research Institute’s (IRRI) Hybrid Rice Development Consortium, will aggressively promote the initiative in Central Luzon.

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Central Luzon accounted for a fifth or about 20 percent of the total rice yield in the country during the first half of 2018.

“We encourage more farmers especially in Central Luzon to choose US-88 hybrid rice, which is more ideal for the type of climate we have,” SeedWorks Philippines area manager for North Luzon Simeon Bautista said.

The hybrid rice variety is proven tolerant to typical crop diseases — like Bacterial Leaf Blight, among others — that hamper yield of rice varieties.

“Aside from its proven resilience, US-88 brings about much better rice quality that consumers surely prefer,” Bautista added.

According to Bautista, milling and head rice recovery of this variety are also higher compared to premium rice.

Hybrid rice has also been known to produce better yields of up to 10 to 12 tons per hectare as compared to the inbred seeds, which produce a maximum of six to eight tons per hectare.

Hybrid rice seeds are a product of two different cross-pollinated rice plants with superior qualities. Due to its high yield, it can increase the local supply of rice.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto said in an earlier interview that a number of farmers in Central Luzon are already using hybrid rice seeds.

He also said that aside from crop diversification, hybrid rice technology offers an effective opportunity for farmers to increase their income.