In at least 12 provinces in Mindanao, 16 small lots measuring 1,000-square meters will be transformed into virtual field laboratories next month to establish that modern hybrid rice varieties could be produced in the uplands during the off-season.
While upland rice farming is not new to farmers in Mindanao, it has always been a seasonal once-a-year activity which is timed with the onset of the rains that varies depending on the region.
Traditional upland rice farmers had also been using native rice seeds, mostly Dinorado and Hinumay, known for their aroma and good eating quality but notoriously low yielders with just about 2-metric tons per hectare.
The pilot farms for Upland Hybrid Rice Production will introduce two modern rice varieties produced from years of research by two companies, US Agriseeds whose Philippine subsidiary Seedworks Philippines introduces TH82 and Ramgo Seeds International’s Kimbee Variety.
Both varieties had recorded harvests of up to 10-metric tons in lowland rainfed ricefields.
The Upland Hybrid Rice Production Pilot Farms will establish whether these modern rice seeds could produce as much in upland areas using only a sprinkler system for watering.
Actually, I introduced the idea of using modern pressurized irrigation for upland rice farming to the Department of Agriculture about four years ago with the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) providing P10-M to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to implement the experiment.
The long and tedious bureaucratic process of procurement, however, delayed the implementation of the project and it was only recently when PhilRice conducted the experiment.
In May this year, after enroling in the on-line class conducted by the Mashav of Israel on Modern Pressurized Irrigation and Fertigation in the Tropical Regions, I decided to do my own experiment in a 500-square meter area of my farm in Kidapawan City.
The rice in the small plot is now starting to produce grains and harvest is expected next month.
Encouraged by the initial results, I asked PhilRice, Seedworks and Ramgo Seeds to partner with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in setting up similar pilot farms in the different areas of Mindanao to serve as field laboratories or field schools where farmers could learn the technology.
The technology could enable upland rice farmers to plant twice a year and increase the production from 2-metric tons per hectare once a year to at least 5 to 6 metric tons twice a year or a total yearly production of 10 to 12 metric tons.
This project, if proven successful, could have a huge impact on MinDA’s advocacy to address rural poverty, improve productivity and fight hunger in the rural areas.
It could also contribute to the country’s rice sufficiency program.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
https://fb.watch/aAuGCcY9fW/
More Stories
Cotabato Eyes Huge ‘Halal’ Meat Demand
‘DV Savellano’ Model Bamboo Goat House
Practical Farming: Turn Used Plastic Containers Into Life-Time Laying Nests!