Iloilo towns go for hybrid rice

The campaign for hybrid rice in the province of Iloilo is gaining higher grounds as more rice producing municipalities are into hybrid rice production particularly the Pioneer HB varieties augmented by Durabloom organic fertilizer.

This developed as some 170 hectares of rice lands selected as hybrid demo farms in the municipality of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo are being planted to hybrid rice, thereby crushing the notion that hybrid rice is not good for Iloilo farmlands.

The launching of hybrid rice production at Brgy. Bungacl, Barotac Nuevo is supported by Mayor Hernan Biron and Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the fourth district of Iloilo and the Department of Agriculture regional office here.

Recognizing the economic potentials of hybrid rice, the Birons had subsidized the hybrid seeds and 450 sacks of organic fertilizer to start the planting in the hybrid demo farms.

Municipal agriculturist Edgar Acela said that the farmers are expecting more than 160 cavans of palay production after the second cropping season as compared to only 60 cavans production of non-hybrid seeds.

Hybrid rice is also of good eating quality and commands better prices in the market.

The other towns that went hybrid this year include rice and corn areas in Sara, ricelands in San Miguel, Pototan, Alimodian, Janiuay and Zarraga. More towns with wide farmlands are expected to shift to hybrid rice production by next year. By Lydia C. Pendon

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