Bicol is ranked third among the top producers of hybrid rice in the country based on the accomplishment versus target report of the wet season cropping covering the November 2004-April 2005.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional executive director Hector M. Sales bared that Bicol has posted an average yield of 6.49 metric tons per hectare for hybrid rice production compared to previous year's 6.32 metric tons produced per hectare.

Some 12,026 hectares equivalent to 93 per cent of the regional target were planted to hybrid rice.

Sales also added that the DA will continue its seed subsidy for hybrid rice seeds. "For the May-October 2005 planting period, farmers can avail of the P1,300 seed subsidy per 20 kg. bag of hybrid rice seeds (all varieties) and the farmer's equity is at P1,100 for public varieties (I.e. Mestizo 1-3) or higher for private varieties like SL-8H and Bigante."

The GMA rice program, in collaboration with the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation provides Philphos urea fertilizers at subsidized prices to farmers participating in the Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program this cropping season.

For every bag of hybrid rice seeds procured, a farmer is entitled to a discount per bag of urea, for a maximum of 3 bags to be picked-up from Philphos designated warehouses.

Release of urea from the designated warehouses is on a cash-and-carry basis through coupon system. The Philphos discounted price of urea is P748 for the Bicol provinces except for Masbate which is P758.

Over in Camarines Norte, in support to the GMA Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program the Department of Agriculture together with the local government unit of Talisay, the Philippine Soon Ching Ling Foundation and SL Agritech Corporation implemented the SL-8 Technology Demonstration Project in 20 hectares contiguous area of Bgy. San Isidro in said municipality.

SL-Agritech provided free hybrid rice seeds while the LGU provided the loan for the inputs for the demo project.

During the recent field day, 18 farmer cooperators generated an average yield of 150 cavans per hectare to which Talisay mayor Rodolfo V. Gache expressed optimism that the municipality will retain its title as the province's rice granary.

Aside from the award given by SL Agritech on the collective performance of the farmers group, Mayor Gache also gave awards to hybrid rice farmers who obtained the highest yield in the techno demo.

Gache expressed optimism that in the next cropping more farmers will plant hybrid rice based on the receptivity shown by farmers during the field day.

The Techno Demo Contest of SL Agritech being conducted nationwide awards P50,000 to the first prize winner, P30,000 and P20,000 for second and third prize respectively. Criteria for judging is 80 per cent actual yield over the 20 hectare contiguous area at 14 per cent moisture content (MC) and 20 per cent recording and documentation of the project. (DA)

by MR Ilan