Field walk participants viewing newly released rice varieties showcased in Laguna.
Popular and newly released inbred and hybrid rice varieties recommended for Regions IV-A and IV-B were showcased during the technology demonstration on March 11 and 14 in Los Baños and Bay, Laguna.
Eighty-six farmers from the Pinagisang Damdamin ng mga Magsasaka ng Mabacan River Irrigators Association (PIDaMaRIS), Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Maahas (SAMA-SAMA), and Samahan ng mga Magpapalay ng Bayog attended the Lakbay Palay or field walks along with municipal agriculture office staff.
A varietal techno-demo was held at the branch’s Palayamanan Demo Farm (PDF) and at a farmer’s field in Brgy. Masaya in Bay following the PalayCheck system. Results at the Los Baños PDF showed comparable yields of the hybrid varieties Mestiso 73 and Mestiso 13 at 5.30 t/ha, while inbred varieties yielded 4.06 to 5.10t/ ha. At the Bay PDF, relatively lower yields were observed in Mestiso 73 at 3.73t/ha while inbreds ranged from 3.71 to 4.99t/ha.
