New production system increases yields, income

A new system of producing rice has been found to increase yields and income in Northwest Luzon.

PhilRice researchers led by Noel D. Ganotisi said the new rice production system is called PalayCheck, a variant of the RiceCheck that originated in Australia. The PalayCheck is being promoted by PhilRice, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization [UN FAO], and local government units in Northwest Luzon and other parts of the country.

Other authors of the paper are Dr. Reynaldo C. Castro, Juanito M. Maloom, Dr. Edilberto D. Redona, Melita U. Castillo, Adelfa T. Camungao, Evelyn R. Cabulay, Dr. Rolando T. Cruz, Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, and Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian.

In tests conducted in farmers’ fields, farmer-cooperators attained higher yields with more key checks.

The PhilRice researchers said PalayCheck is an extension system that integrates and balances relevant technology and management options with farmers learning to improve their productivity and profitability in an environment-friendly manner. It is an adoption of the RiceCheck system that originated in Australia and led to an increase in their average rice yield from six tons per hectare (T/ha) to 10 T/ha in a span of 10 years.

Results in the implementation of the PalayCheck showed that only 16 percent of 75 farmer-cooperators in three sites followed all the nine key recommendations, which are called key checks. The number of checks attained by the farmer-cooperators varied as follows: eight checks, 23 percent; seven checks, 20 percent; six checks, 15 percent; five checks, 16 percent; four checks, nine percent; and three checks, one percent.

Nine key checks were initially recommended, but the number has been reduced to seven to make it easier for the farmers to follow.

Initial results showed that average yields decreased with a corresponding decrease in the number of checks attained, as follows: nine checks, 6.20 T/ha; eight checks, 5.57 T/ha; 7 sevenchecks, 5.30 T/ha; six checks, 4.81 T/ha; five checks, 4.72 T/ha; four checks, 4.33 T/ha; and three checks, 3.05 T/ha.

In like manner, average net income per hectare also decreased with decreasing number of checks attained, as follows: 35,074 for nine checks; 33,617 for eight checks; 32,617 for seven checks; 27,519 for six checks; 26,332 for five checks; 21,995 for four checks; and 16,650 for three checks.

The new key checks are: use of certified seeds; a leveled field at initial flooding after harrowing or leveling; healthy seedlings at days after transplanting; no excessive water or drought stress; 17 to 19 tillers a hill at early panicle initiation; no significant yield loss from pests; and harvest when 20 percent of the grains at the base of the panicle are in hard dough stage. – Sosimo Ma. Pablico