The Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) – Productivity Rice Enhancement Development (OPA-PRED) of the Provincial Government of Palawan has recorded an average yield of more or less five (5) metric tons per hectare during this year’s wet season on its hybrid rice. This is a higher yield compared to the certified seeds with an approximate yield of 3.5 metric tons per hectare.
“Di pa yan final, pero base sa data na pumasok sa amin as of November 30, (this year) 5.07 metric ton per hectare pa lang,” said Mayla Rebusada, OPA’s rice program focal person. The wet season is from April – August of the year while the onset of dry season starts on Sept. 15 and lasts until March 15. Hybrid rice also known as “M20” or Mestiza 20 is the product of a cross between two genetically distinct rice parents. While an inbred rice variety is a pure line. This means that the offspring or succeeding generations produced by this variety will have the same genetic makeup.
The PRED Program granted hybrid rice seeds to more than 84 farmers around the province as part of their livelihood assistance which aims to heighten rice productivity and food security in Palawan. “Yung inbred (certified seeds) nasa 70 cavans per hectare pero ngayong gumamit sila ng hybrid seeds nadagdagan ng 30 cavans ‘yung kanilang ani kasi 100 cavans na yan,” said Rebusada. She added that she sees Palawan as “feasible” to hybrid rice commercialization because of the higher average yield production that certified seeds. “Feeling ko naman, ang Palawan ay feasible area for hybrid rice production, kasi di ba ang goal ng hybrid rice ay to increase ng yield.
So far, dun sa mga tumanggap ng model farm demo natin for hybrid, nung gumamit sila ng M20 (Mestiza20 or hybrid rice) mas tumaas yung production nila compared dun sa gumamit sila ng inbreed,” she said. The PRED program first granted their livelihood assistance in the municipalities of Narra, Aborlan, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Rizal, Quezon, Roxas at Sofronio Espanola that are seen to be “feasible” areas for hybrid rice commercialization.