Written by the Web Team
The Department of Agriculture (DA), with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) as lead, is kicking off a nationwide rice production competition dubbed as Palayabangan: The 10-5 Challenge starting this June.
Palayabangan aims to level up the rice production standard to 10-5, that is, 10 tons/ha yield (or 200 cav) at only P5 input cost per kilogram of palay. The current average input cost is pegged at P11/kg.
“The 10-5 Challenge supports the goal of the Food Staples Sufficiency Program and the advocacies of the National Year of Rice (NYR) 2013. NYR aims to help increase farmers’ productivity and boost their morale,” Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director said.
Palayabangan, according to Rasco, is a “new initiative that will provide opportunities for all players in the rice sector to show what they can do to improve yield and reduce production cost.”
“This initiative will also address issues on agriculture competitiveness, which would eventually help decrease smuggling and importation,” he stressed.
He added that the 10-5 Challenge will continue until the goal of “high income-low cost production” is achieved and sustained.
The competition is open to any farmer or farmer groups, Gawad Saka Awardees, seed companies, fertilizer companies, non-government organizations, civil society groups, and state colleges and universities.
Prizes at stake are as follows: P5 million in project fund and technology promotion activities for the national winner; P100 thousand in cash for the regional winners; and P10 thousand in cash for consolation prizes. Winners will be known in November 2013.
Participants can download the mechanics of the competition, the registration form, and the work plan template from the NYR website www.nyr2013.com. Registration period is from May 22 to June 18.
Printed copies may also be availed from PhilRice’s central experiment and branch stations and DA Regional Field Units.
Forms can be submitted to any PhilRice Branch Stations or via email at palayabangan@gmail.com.
From the pool of applicants who qualify, the Board of Judges will select not more than 10 official competitors from every PhilRice station. They will receive a confirmation from the organizers to attend the final briefing.
