Rice growers are optimistic about the PalaySikatan initiative under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, which aims to modernize rice farming and reduce production costs.
Recent activities in Casiguran, Aurora and Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte highlighted the program’s potential benefits and the enthusiasm of local farmers.
In Casiguran, Jaime E. Bautista, chair of the Esteves Farmers’ Association (EFA), expressed confidence in the initiative’s goals, which include increasing rice yields by at least one ton per hectare and reducing production costs to PhP 12/kg from the usual PhP15-20.
Bautista emphasized the importance of proper training and access to quality seeds and machinery to achieve these targets.
“Achieving a PhP12/kg production cost is possible with adequate government support,” he said.
The activity also introduced a walk-behind mechanical transplanter by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
Despite inclement weather preventing a full field demonstration, the transplanter’s potential to make rice planting more cost-effective and efficient was highlighted. Farmers noted that the device could save 0.5 bags of seeds per hectare and expressed a willingness to adopt the technology, anticipating that it could halve their costs, increase their harvests, and boost their incomes.
Meanwhile, in Barangay Catmon, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, about 70 farmers attended a hands-on training session on using mechanical transplanters.
Engr. Julius C. Maristela from the Philippine Rice Research Institute’s Bicol station explained that while traditional methods might require 8-12 laborers per hectare, a mechanical transplanter can cover up to 4 ha with just three operators.
“This technology ensures precise seed placement, uniform seeding depth, and improved seedling emergence, ultimately boosting crop performance,” Maristela stated.
The PalaySikatan initiative aims to demonstrate the advantages of high-quality inbred seeds and modern machinery, focusing on reducing production costs and increasing yields. In addition to the sites in Aurora and Southern Leyte, similar technology demonstration sites have been established in Camarines Norte and Albay.
