Zambales rice farmers gave positive feedback on the use of direct seeding machines such as plastic drum seeder and ride-on precision seeder shown in a field day and forum held in Sta. Cruz, Zambales on Sep. 19 and Oct. 13.
According to farmer Juanito Medida, he likes the plastic drum seeder’s precise depth and spacing.
With the use of drum seeder, rice grains are seeded in straight rows allowing mechanical weeding in between rows. It also helps save 50-80% seeds over broadcast seeding. It only uses 40-60kg/ha of seeds while usual farmers’ practice consumes 120kg/ha.
Bermy Miano, chairperson of the Guisguis Farmers Association, said that the precision seeder is helpful as it could reduce labor costs and seeding rate.
“I broadcast 80kg of seeds per hectare. But through the precision seeder, 20-40kg of seeds are already enough for a hectare. I also spent PhP12,000 for 20 farm hands in seeding. With the machine, we only need one operator,” Miano said.
In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the local government of Zambales, DA-PhilRice implements the project, “Building capacity on promoting economically and environmentally efficient rice production through direct-seeded rice,” which aims to strengthen the use of direct-seeding technologies.
