ILOILO CITY (PIA)—Rice seeds for the wet cropping season are now available for farmers to pick up at designated drop-off areas.
In a press release, Department of Agriculture Information Officer James Ogatis said that farmers affected by the El Niño can also avail of the supply provided their names are in the master list.
“Their areas must have also been inspected and validated,” Ogatis said.
DA-6 Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales said the use of high-quality certified and hybrid seeds are important factors in the increase of production.
“Certified seeds can increase yield from five to 20 percent, while the use of hybrid seeds can increase yield by about 15 to 39 percent,” Nacionales said.
“I also encourage the farmers to plant early using the farm mechanization facilities given to them,” Nacionales added.
He further said with farm elements, the farmers can fast track land preparation reduce cost and address farm shortage.
Meanwhile, Elmer Cabusas, regional rice program action officer, said that a total of 5,684 bags at 40kg/bag of high quality rice seeds are available at these drop-off points:
For the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Guimaras, rice seeds can be picked up at Western Visayas Integrated Agriculture Research Center, in Jaro; for Antique, at the Antique Research Outreach Station in Padangm Patnongon; for Aklan, at the Makato JICA Warehouse; and, in Negros Occidental, at the PhilRice in Murcia.
Cabusas said that farmers who intend to participate in the hybrid technology adoption program of the department, will receive one bag hybrid seeds coupled with two bags fertilizer per hectare plus soil ameliorants.
“We have 29,100 bags of hybrid seeds and fertilizers, also at designated drop-off points for this program, Cabusas said.
(JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)