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The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office IX (DA9) has launched the Hybrid Rice technology derby, in a ten hectare rice field in barangay Blancia, Municipality of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur.

As response to the advocacy of President Rodrigo R. Duterte for food security and sufficiency, the Department of Agriculture (DA) 9 through its Rice Commodity invited over 100 rice farmers to witness the launching of the Hybrid Rice Derby.

The Provincial Municipal Agriculturist, Agricultural Extension Workers and Seed Companies participated in the event at the demonstration farm owned by Dr. Ramon Blancia.

Among those showcased are Seed Works Philippines Inc. (US 88, TH 82) DOSEPCO (Mestizo 19, 20, 38), Bayer (Bigante Plus, Arise Bigante, SL – Agri – Tech (SL 18, 12, 8) , Syngenta (5017, 6003), Pioneer (PHB 73, 77, 79, and Avanta (801).

“The purpose of conducting this hybrid rice derby in the region is to attain the rice self-sufficiency of the country through promoting and showcasing the yield potential of these hybrid rice varieties. We are showcasing these hybrid rice varieties to help Local Government Units (LGUs), farmers and other agriculture stakeholders to demonstrate the preference of suitability for planting in their local areas.” said Evelyn Academia, DA Regional Rice Commodity Program Coordinator.

Relative to the 2020 Rice – self Sufficiency Goal, the Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol reveals strategies on promotion of hybrid rice, irrigation, and provision of post-harvest facilities, access to credit, and access to right marketing, to meet the rice-sufficiency target.

Zamboanga Peninsula posted 214, 632 MT rice production in 51, 434 hectares harvested based on the final estimates conducted by the province and ecosystem in March 2017.  (Cabeguin/ DA9)