HYBRID RICE seed is being promoted to farmers as holding the potential for higher yields despite the increased cost compared with traditional seed.
“Hybrid adopters earn more. They can get as much as 260 bags per hectare. Although the farmers spend more in purchasing these seeds, the return or profit also is higher,” Philippine Integrated Rice Program Director Dionisio G. Alvindia said during an online briefing.
As of Jan. 15, 614,619 hectares have been planted to hybrid rice out of 1.52 million hectares of rice land.
“This is one opportunity that we offer to rice farmers to elevate their gain, elevate their productivity, and become more competitive… having more income that they can use for their basic necessities,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.
Mr. Dar said rice farmers need to “look into the production of hybrid rice to boost production and earn higher profits.”
In 2021, output of palay, or unmilled rice, rose 3.5% to 19.96 million metric tons (MT).
The Department of Agriculture said it expects output to be 20.25 million MT this year. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
