SAN JUAN, La Union — While many farmers in Barangay Duplas abandoned the rice variety NSIC Rc 512 after bacterial leaf blight, rice blast, and sheath blight hit during the 2025 wet season, farmer Jerry M. Abat chose to keep planting it.

Abat, a cooperator under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) PalaySikatan 2.0 technology demonstration, said he relied on crop management practices he learned from the project.

Despite typhoon damage, he harvested 5.4 t/ha of fresh palay, showing that proper management can sustain yields even under stress.

Encouraged by the result, Abat planted Rc 512 again in the 2026 dry season using certified seeds from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

His confidence paid off with a higher yield of 7.2 t/ha. 

Abat’s results drew renewed interest from fellow farmers during the PalaySikatan harvest festival with some who had earlier set aside the variety now reconsidering it for future planting.

He also urged farmers to try other inbred varieties.

“If we keep using the same variety over and over, the chances of being hit by pests and diseases become higher. We should not be afraid to try new inbred varieties as they might even give us better yields,” he said.

PalaySikatan 2.0 showcases the latest recommended inbred varieties and mechanization practices under the RCEF Seed Program.