By Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
HYBRID RICE producer SL Agritech Corp. is looking to expand the local yield of hybrid rice produced in the province of Lanao del Sur, after allocating 50 hectares for two hybrid rice varieties.
SL Agritech on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement with Lanao del Sur officials for a 50-hectare hybrid rice technology demonstration as part of rehabilitation efforts for Marawi City.
SL Agritech Senior Technical and Promotion Consultant Frisco M. Malabanan said P1.65-million project will help around 50 farmers in the nearby municipality of Bubong.
“The [rice] yield from the area is only 3 metric tons (MT) to 3.5 MT per hectare. According to research, we are ranging from 7 MT to 14 MT, following the recommended technology [for the hybrid rice],” he said on Tuesday.
Seeds have already started to be sown in the area last Jan. 19. The 50 farmers have already undergone the necessary briefing and training — a move Mr. Malabanan said should also entice other farmers to switch to hybrid rice farming.
“SL Agritech will provide the technology and production inputs. We have to link this to other agricultural product suppliers and trader millers so that when the palay is ready for harvesting, the trader miller will buy back the produce,” Mr. Malabanan said.
Go Negosyo, an advocacy group that also signed the memorandum of agreement for the project, will help ensure sustainable agribusiness in the region.
Lanao del Sur provincial agriculturist Mohamadali D. Macaraya said the goal is to replicate the project in the surrounding areas, which will expand the covered area for hybrid rice to 1,000 hectares in the next planting season.
Mr. Macaraya noted the region has 4,319 hectares but cannot be used due to the lack of proper irrigation.
“We have plenty of rivers. Our [water] supply is more than enough but the problem is how to divert the canals from rivers to the field. We need the government to support us because this will help the people of Marawi City and Lanao del Sur,” he added.
Mr. Macaraya said the local government unit is requesting for funds to rehabilitate the post-harvest facilities after most of these were destroyed during the five-month Marawi siege last year.
If properly implemented, the hybrid rice project could provide employment to 50,000 people.
“If we could introduce livelihood to the people, they will not have to think about resorting to criminality,” Mr. Macaraya said.
Mr. Macaraya estimated that once Lanao del Sur adopts the hybrid rice, the fields could yield around 20 million to 30 million bags of palay annually. He noted this can reduce the region’s dependence on rice imports, given 80% of rice is imported to keep up with the demand.
