Farmers can further observe the performance of hybrid rice with the extended run of its techno demo in Asingan and Urdaneta City, Pangasinan until 2nd week of April.
In a 37.5-ha, Mestiso 20 (M20), one of the 25 hybrid rice varieties, and six inbred varieties –NSIC Rc 160, Rc 216, Rc 300, Rc 402, Rc 438, and Rc 480 are featured.
The techno demo, which is part the 8th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF) aimed to find out the most suitable hybrid rice variety to encourage farmers to plant the varieties.
A 2017 PhilRice policy brief asserts planting hybrid rice is one way to boost local farmers’ competitiveness against their ASEAN counterparts. This could increase yield and reduce production cost per kilogram of palay.
Bred by PhilRice and UPLB, M20 yields 6.4 to 11.7t/ha. It matures in 111 days after sowing, and is moderately resistant to yellow stem borer, green leafhopper, and brown plant hopper.
Together with M20, other hybrid rice varieties were established in the demo farms through direct seeding, and manual and mechanical transplanting.
From March 20-22, more than 3000 farmers, R&D workers, technical consultants, and local officials across the country participated in the NRTF.
With the theme “Increase Rice Production Through Hybrid Rice Technology,” the event was participated by 14 private companies and government, institutions showcase their best varieties and other related technologies.
Rice Board, a non-profit organization that aims to bring the available technologies to rice farmers and the DA-National Rice Program organized the event.
Featuring field tour, forum, and exhibit, the two-day activity was also hosted by DA Region 1 and the local government units.
