Manila Bulletin, G-2 via SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center

Income per hectare is almost doubled

Having seen the benefits of planting hybrid rice to the farmers, the provincial government of Isabela has vowed to support all farmers who like to shift to planting hybrid rice instead of traditional rice varieties.

"We fully support the national government's hybrid rice program and all farmers in Isabela who want to plant hybrid or Gloria Rice will be provided with technological assistance," said Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy Jr.

Governor Dy, a successful businessman before he entered politics, noted how the farmers in the province have benefited from planting hybrid rice. "Imagine harvesting almost double than what you used to per hectare. That translates to 'dobleng kita' per hectare," Dy said.

Lawyer Benito Calderon, a candidate for congressman in 2nd District of Isabela, said, "The 2nd District of Isabela, the municipality Roxas in particular, has become a center for producing hybrid rice seeds which the farmers plant in their fields," Calderon said.

Calderon, a three-term mayor of Roxas and an incumbent provincial board member, explained that the hybrid seeds being produced in the 2nd district of Isabela are being sold as fas as Mindanao support the growing number of farmers who are now planting hybrid rice.

A statesman in Isabela, Calderon vowed to support all initiatives to further expand hybrid rice production in Isabela which, he said, would redound to the good of the country as a whole.

He cited the case of Nestor Gamboa, who has been successfully planting hybrid rice seeds that the farmers plant in their fields. "Nestor has been earning well. A lot of farmers are now following him and planting hybrid rice seeds and are going into commercial production," Calderon said.

Last February, the Department of Agriculture cited Isabela as Outstanding Province in Hybrid Rice Production. In March, it received the Dr. S.S. Virmani Award for being a hybrid rice grower. And recently, the province received a special citation for Highest Planting of Hybrid Rice from SL. Agritech Corp.