As wet season planting starts in some rice-growing areas, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is encouraging farmers to adopt cost-saving practices as rising global input prices continue to put pressure on farm production costs.
PhilRice agriculturist Fredierick M. Saludez said farmers may save thousands of pesos per hectare by using certified seeds, properly leveling fields, and adopting efficient planting methods.
According to Saludez, one of the easiest ways to reduce expenses is by using inbred certified seeds from accredited seed growers instead of uncertified seeds from unreliable sources.
For transplanted rice, farmers usually use around 66 kg of seeds per hectare, costing about PhP1,980. By following PhilRice’s recommendation of using only 20-40 kg/ha of certified seeds, expenses may be reduced to around PhP880-PhP1,760 or a savings of about PhP460-PhP1,220/ha.
For direct-seeded rice, proper seeding rates and the use of certified seeds may also lower seed expenses by around PhP720-PhP1,460/ha.
“Certified seeds not only help reduce seed requirements. They also contribute to better crop establishment, more uniform growth, and higher yield potential,” Saludez, also the Institute’s Text Center agent, explained.
He also emphasized the importance of proper land preparation before planting, particularly field leveling, saying uneven land preparation can lead to poor water distribution and more difficult management of weeds and invasive apple snails, increasing costs during the season.
Based on studies, proper land leveling may reduce expenses from around PhP9,600-PhP7,750/ha, allowing farmers to save around PhP1,850 while improving crop management efficiency.
“Properly leveled fields make irrigation management easier and help ensure uniform crop growth,” the senior staff said.
Saludez also encouraged farmers to explore mechanized planting options such as mechanical transplanters and drumseeders to further reduce labor costs.
“Using a mechanical transplanter may lower transplanting expenses by around PhP300/ha while also reducing labor requirements and seed use,” Saludez added.
