NE farmer turns in impressive rice yields

“My first try planting hybrid seeds was not what I expected - the blight (palay bacteria) infested my 2.5-hectare rice farm. But that did not dampen my enthusiasm to pursue my interest to plant the same SL-8H hybrid variety dahil naka-harvest pa rin ako ng 120 cavans per hectare, compared to what I used to produce sa inbred -- only 70 to 80 cavans per hectare,” said Mang Eddie who is a holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).

Instead of directly answering my question how many cavans he made in last month’s dry season harvest that won him the coveted 2010 “Gawad Saka Provincial Award” given by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the provincial government of Nueva Ecija, Mang Eddie raised his hands and said with a big smile: “Tinugon ng Dios ang aming panalangin.”

 “I didn’t expect really that I will be making 316 cavans per hectare using the SL-8H hybrid seeds. Ngayon lang ito nangyarisince I started farming at an early age with my father. I am really overwhelmed and happy,” he said in an interview.

Forty-eight, married to Rosela Sogo-an, with three children, all college scholars, Mang Eddie was also the recipient early this year of the “Natatanging Magsasaka ng Dekada” Award presented to him by Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Vergara; the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Butil Award as Outstanding Hybrid Rice Farmer; 2005 and 2006 “Magsasaka Siyentista;” and several other awards and commendations given by civic and government organizations.

He is at present the chairman of the Makabagong Magsasaka ng Palagay Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative which has 64 members. 

Policarpio’s hybrid rice harvest per hectare of 316 cavans, however, is 29.6 cavans short of farmer Severino Payumo’s 2009’s harvest record of 345.6 and 28 cavans less of Aida Badong’s 344 cavans per hectare. Payumo and Policarpio are from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija,   while Badong is from San Nicolas, Camarines Sur.

Henry Lim, chairman and CEO of SL Agritech Corp., the country’s top producer of the SL-8H hybrid seeds, said “it will take perhaps a year or more for someone who can break or duplicate Payumo’s impressive record in hybrid rice production.

“Marami na ring magsasaka ang umaani ng mahigit 250 hanggang 270 cavans per hectare pero kailangan pa rin nilang matutuhan ang tama at wastong teknolohiya sa pagtatanim ng hybrid rice para lalu pang lumaki ang kanilang ani at kita,” he said.

Payumo’s recorded harvest of 345.6 cavans per hectare in 2009 easily won for him the grand prize in the Search for Hybrid Rice Highest Yielder initiated the same year by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Nueva Ecija and SL Agritech Corp., in cooperation with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Food Authority (NFA), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Units (DA-RFU).