Rice trial yields 120 cavans hybrid rice a ha in Cabugao

By Imelda C. Rivero

Thursday 2nd of August 2012

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur, Aug. 2 (PIA) -- The rice verification trial in this town which started during last year’s rainy season yielded 120 cavans of hybrid rice per hectare according to the Bayan ng Cabugao website.

The rice verification trial is a program that compares the capabilities of inbred and hybrid rice in planting and harvesting in various places. This is one concept of the research of Edilberto V Santiago, a rice researcher of Ilocos Sur to help farmers learn to use new farm technologies, and to do away with old farming techniques.

This project was conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) provincial center of Batac City in Barangay Quezon at the one-hectare farm of Nelson Sivila, and other farms of Eric Tagayuna and Maximo Tagayuna.

Sivila said that with no irrigation, he harvested 120 cavans of rice per hectare of hybrid compared to 100 cavans of inbred rice produced during the wet season from June to November. From November to May during the dry season, he harvested 60 cavans of hybrid rice.

This project is in line with the national agriculture program of President Aquino which is the nationwide adaptation of new technologies and hybrid seeds by all farmers to increase their harvests. (ANL/ICR-PIA 1, Ilocos Sur)