THE CENTRAL Mindanao University and the Department of Agriculture recently held a ceremonial planting for its Hybrid Rice Derby project.

The Hybrid Rice Derby is under the agency’s Hybridization Program which aims to increase farm efficiency and attain rice sufficiency in the region.

Audy Maagad, Field Operations Division chief who represented DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado, emphasized the benefits of using hybrid rice. He said that it is a good option to increase farmers’ production because it can produce as much as 10-12 tons per hectare.

“With hybrid rice and farm mechanization in land preparation, transplanting, and harvesting, the production cost is reduced while the yield increases. Thus, rice farmers can earn more,” Maagad said.

“The country’s top seed-producing companies participate in the Hybrid Rice Derby namely Bayer, Dosepco, SL Agritech, Leads Agri, Ramgo, LongPin, Corteva, Syngenta, Bioseed, and Seedworks, including DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute,” he added.

The CMU provided 33 hectares of farmland for the participating seed-producing companies where they could plant their best varieties and showcase them, highlighting their respective cultural management practices and other technologies to enhance rice productivity.

This will then be displayed in a technology demonstration, so farmers can determine which variety is best suited for their respective areas.

“The seeds companies’ respond to DA’s call through public-private partnership projects, especially these Covid19 times, is proof that the Filipino’s Bayanihan spirit lives on,” Maagad said.

CMU President Jesus Antonio Derije said the university welcomes opportunities that can help the country achieve rice sufficiency.

“We want to be of help in the country’s rice production to prevent rice shortage. We need to produce more because rice is the Philippines’ staple food. We are one with the Department in achieving excellent production of quality rice,” Derije said.