Community hybrid rice farming lures farmers in Bohol

Created on Friday, 29 April 2022

Farmers are lured to plant hybrid rice in Talibon, Bohol after the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 7 hosted the 7th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF) in Bohol. According to Cecille Opada, community hybrid rice farming (CHRF) coordinator, a significant increase of 15-30 percent was observed over the inbred varieties given the same controlled variables.

Opada said that the ongoing clustering of rice farmers started in 2021 with only 9 clusters and significantly increased to 23 clusters covering 4,687 hectares in Central Visayas.

She added that the program will continue until the dry season in 2024-2025.

Strengthening the CRHF coordinators is the recent 14th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF)-a nationwide training for CHRF coordinators in Camarines Sur.
The group observed the impact of the CHRF showcasing 104.3 hectares of clustered rice areas in barangay San Ramon, Bula, Camarines Sur.

The said techno demo used 27 hybrid varieties from seed companies and four PhilRice inbred varieties.

Reducing the cost of production is the use of drone seeder applicator, drum seeder and direct planting.

Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan urged the implementers to work closely with private sectors in capacitating the farmers' associations and cooperatives to raise farmer- entrepreneurs.
Regional delegates of the NRTF include project leader, Cecille Opada; Jonathan Pierre Limocon, rice report officer, among others.