The Department of Agriculture targets to distribute quality inbred and hybrid rice seeds in 15 regions covering a total of 1.8 million hectares (ha) through the National Rice Program this year, to support local rice production amid higher costs of inputs.
Arnel de Mesa, DA assistant secretary for operations, said so far, more than P6.4 million worth of seeds have been distributed covering 582,780 ha of farmlands.
Of that, P5.32 million is for hybrid seeds and the remaining P1.11 million for certified seeds to eligible farmer-beneficiaries.
Hybrid seeds which have been bred using two superior parents intentionally selected for their desired traits, yield a higher volume compared to inbred seeds which are also known as self-pollinating varieties that multiply with the same flower in the same plant.
However, some farmers still prefer inbred seeds over hybrid seeds as the latter is more expensive despite being easier to grow and capable of adapting better to stress and disease.
Aside from the seed support, De Mesa added the government continues to provide assistance through the fertilizer discount voucher program, which entitles rice farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture a price cut in their fertilizer purchase.
“We give vouchers amounting to P1,131 for every ha planted with inbred and P2,262 for every ha planted with hybrid… Except for the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, all regions are included in the voucher program,” De Mesa explained.
He added that beneficiaries may also claim inorganic and organic fertilizers, foliar fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and bio-stimulants with a total of 176,394 vouchers generated amounting to more than P285 million, to date.
“Based on our monitoring, 8,151 vouchers amounting to P12.7 million have already been claimed, which covers 8,540 ha of rice land. We have already instructed our regional field offices to fast track and expedite the voucher generation and distribution, in line with the directives of our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that we (DA) will focus on increasing production,” De Mesa added.
Apart from vouchers, DA has also been distributing and promoting the use of nitrogen-fixing bio-fertilizer which can reduce fertilizer use by 25 to 50 percent while maintaining yield performance.
De Mesa said except for NCR, such initiative covers 200,000 ha of irrigated or those with intermittent irrigation and favorable rainfed areas across the country with the program allocated with a funding of P33 million.
